Malaysia set to enforce seatbelts for all in private cars as JPJ intensifies safety drive

What is changing on Malaysian roads

Malaysia is preparing to tighten enforcement of seatbelt rules for everyone in private vehicles. The Road Transport Department, known as JPJ, will move from advocacy to active enforcement, requiring all drivers and passengers to buckle up. The agency has launched the Klik Sebelum Gerak campaign to build habits and raise awareness, and said fines of up to RM300 will be imposed on those who do not comply once enforcement begins. An exact start date has not been announced.

Seatbelt rules are not new. Drivers and front passengers have been required to wear seatbelts since 1978, and the requirement was expanded in 2009 to include those in the back seat. Cars registered before 1995, or vehicles that do not have rear seat anchor points, are exempt from the rear seat rule. When the rear seat rule was introduced in 2009, owners were given a grace period through 2011 to retrofit seatbelts, where possible.

Research by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research indicates that wearing a seatbelt can halve the risk of dying for vehicle occupants in a crash. A seatbelt also keeps an unrestrained passenger from striking others in the vehicle during a collision. The message from authorities is simple, make buckling up non negotiable for everyone, every trip.

Why is Malaysia tightening seatbelt rules now

Compliance has eroded over time, especially in the back seat. A recent survey by a road safety researcher at Universiti Putra Malaysia found that only about 2 percent of rear passengers wear seatbelts, a sharp drop from about 20 percent measured when the rule was first enforced in 2009. Researchers attribute the decline to weak enforcement and persistent myths, such as the belief that rear passengers are safe without restraints in modern cars.

Public concern also grew after a fatal bus crash near Gerik on June 9 that killed 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris students. The tragedy accelerated a clampdown on bus safety, and it set the tone for a wider push that now includes private vehicles.

JPJ director general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said enforcement for private car passengers will follow the current education drive. At a press conference, he underscored the sequence of steps the agency is taking.

‘We will announce the enforcement of seatbelt use for passengers of private cars soon. For now, we are beginning with this campaign first.’

What will enforcement look like for private cars

When enforcement begins, drivers and passengers who are unbelted can receive a compound fine of up to RM300. Expect checks at roadblocks, at highway rest stops, and during periodic safety operations in urban areas. Drivers will be expected to remind passengers to buckle up before the car moves. In practice, that means drivers share responsibility for safety inside their cars.

JPJ is leaning on education before penalties. The Klik Sebelum Gerak campaign aims to build habits in families and among frequent carpoolers, and it promotes a proven combination of education, engineering and enforcement. Global studies find that wearing rates rise most when clear rules, visible checks and simple safety cues reinforce each other over time.

What drivers and passengers can do right now:

• Buckle up before the car moves, in the front and in the back, every trip.
• As a driver, ask all passengers to fasten their belts. Do this before shifting into gear.
• Secure children in an approved child restraint system that matches their weight and height.
• Check that belts are not frayed, buckles latch and release smoothly, and anchors are secure.
• Avoid dummy buckles, alarm stoppers or clip extenders that defeat seatbelt reminders.
• In taxis and ride hailing, the same rule applies, passengers are required to wear seatbelts.

Buses already under strict checks

Malaysia moved first on long distance buses. Since July 1, all drivers and passengers on express and tour buses must use seatbelts. The rule applies to buses registered from January 1, 2020, which must be fitted with belts at every seat. Older buses are given time to retrofit seatbelts, but operators are expected to ensure belts are available and working as soon as possible.

Enforcement teams are checking at terminals, along major routes and, in some cases, through onboard cameras. Passengers can be fined RM300 if unbelted. Drivers and operators may also face fines if they fail to remind passengers or if procedures are not followed before departure. JPJ has told operators that drivers should prompt passengers to fasten belts, and officers can review bus CCTV footage to verify whether a reminder was issued.

JPJ Kedah has carried out covert checks at the Alor Setar Toll Plaza, leading to compound notices and warnings for non compliance. The state director, Stien Van Lutam, urged operators to maintain their equipment and emphasized why belt use matters. He also pointed to a basic fairness issue when belts exist but are not usable due to poor maintenance.

‘In many cases, seatbelts are present on the seats, but they are damaged or unusable. That is unfair when enforcement is being carried out, but the facilities are inadequate.’

Children, families, and the problem of dummy buckles

Authorities are moving to shut down the use of devices that bypass seatbelt reminders. The government has gazetted a ban on the import of dummy buckles, seatbelt alarm stoppers, clip extenders and similar devices, with enforcement set to begin on December 31, 2025. The move follows concern about widespread use of these products and their link to seatbelt violations during major travel periods. In one state level operation, roughly a third of seatbelt offenses were tied to dummy buckle use, and a JPJ director reported that many drivers admitted they used them because of discomfort or habit.

Pediatric specialists have warned that these devices give a false sense of security while leaving children unrestrained. The Malaysian Paediatric Association says improper or absent restraints, children riding in front seats, and weak compliance in private vehicles collectively put young passengers at high risk. The association supports tougher enforcement and public education, as well as better access to approved child restraint systems for families that need financial help.

Parents and caregivers can take simple steps with large benefits. Keep children in the back seat at all times. Use an approved child seat matched to the child’s size, and install it according to the manual. If a belt is routed across a child seat, remove slack and ensure the buckle sits flat and secure. Never hold a child on a lap, even on short trips, and do not place a belt behind the back or under the arm. The safest trip is the one where every occupant is properly restrained.

What the research says about seatbelts and behavior

Recent global reviews highlight that seatbelt use is shaped by several factors, including age, gender, time of day, trip length and the design of the road and vehicle. The most effective safety gains come from a mix of three elements, smarter technology in cars and on roads, consistent education and clear enforcement. Countries that invest across all three typically see higher wearing rates and fewer deaths.

Researchers also describe how compliance is measured. Observational surveys at intersections remain a common tool. Newer methods use roadside or in vehicle cameras, and some pilots apply machine learning to detect belt use. Malaysia is already using CCTV on buses to verify reminders and monitor compliance. For private cars, regular national surveys, open data on wearing rates and visible operations at high risk places can help target education and enforcement without burdening low risk drivers.

Pregnant passengers and correct use

Research in the region shows that pregnant passengers are less likely to use seatbelts and face knowledge gaps about proper positioning. Many avoid belts due to discomfort or fear of harming the fetus, yet correct use protects both mother and baby. The lap belt should rest low across the hips and under the belly. The shoulder belt should pass across the chest, between the breasts and to the side of the belly. The belt must be snug, not twisted, and airbags should remain active unless a doctor advises otherwise. Healthcare providers and public campaigns can reduce myths and guide expectant parents toward safer travel choices.

Exemptions and special cases

Some vehicles are exempt from the rear seat requirement. Cars registered before 1995, or vehicles that were never equipped with rear anchor points, are not required to have rear belts under current rules. If you own such a car, the front seatbelt rule still applies, and retrofitting rear belts remains a strong safety upgrade where the vehicle structure allows it.

The rule applies regardless of who is driving or the type of trip. That includes company cars, taxis and ride hailing. Visitors should also expect to buckle up in front and in back. The safest practice is to treat every seat as a seatbelt seat and every trip as a belt on trip.

• If your car has rear belts, every rear passenger must use them.
• Exempt vehicles that lack rear anchor points remain subject to the front seatbelt rule.
• Do not disable seatbelt reminders. Devices that defeat safety alerts are dangerous and could breach customs rules once the import ban takes effect.
• Children belong in the back seat in a proper child restraint system, not on an adult’s lap.

Compliance challenges and the culture shift

Changing norms takes time. Anecdotal reports from riders and visitors point to cases where ride hailing drivers skip belts, and to friends who still question why a back seat passenger would buckle up. That behavior is common in places where rear wearing rates have fallen. The new push aims to make seatbelts a reflex again, supported by visible checks and clear communication.

Enforcement works best when it feels fair. Authorities can build trust by publishing wearing rates and citation data that show where and when enforcement occurs, and by focusing on high risk behaviors and locations. That helps demonstrate that operations are designed to prevent injuries, not to surprise motorists.

Road safety is a shared responsibility. Families can set rules for carpooling and school runs. Employers can include belt reminders in fleet policies and driver briefings. Community groups can reinforce the message during holiday travel periods. Every reminder and every buckled belt lowers the chance of a life changing injury in a crash.

What to Know

• JPJ will soon enforce mandatory seatbelt use for all occupants in private cars, with fines up to RM300 for non compliance.
• Front seatbelt use has been required since 1978, and the rule expanded to rear seats in 2009, with exemptions for cars registered before 1995 or those without rear anchor points.
• Rear seatbelt wearing has fallen to about 2 percent, down from about 20 percent in 2009, which is a key reason for renewed enforcement.
• Express and tour buses are already under strict enforcement. Passengers, drivers and operators risk RM300 fines, and CCTV footage can be used to verify reminders.
• Dummy seatbelt buckles and alarm stoppers will be banned from import starting December 31, 2025, as part of a wider child safety push.
• Wearing a seatbelt can reduce the risk of death for occupants by up to 50 percent, according to MIROS research.
• Global studies show compliance improves most when education, technology and enforcement are combined and monitored with transparent data.
• Drivers should remind passengers, check belts and buckles, and ensure children ride in approved child restraints in the back seat.