Back in 2019, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) issued an advisory on ensuring the use of suitable child seats, or child restraint systems (CRS), corresponding to the height and weight of the child using it.
Now, the institute has come up with a fitment assessment programme called FitSURE to assist parents and guardians in selecting the right CRS for their vehicle model. In a statement, it said that although there are various types of CRS units on sale in Malaysia, not all of these can be installed properly on every car model, with an improper installation of such devices increasing the risk of injury in an accident.
According to MIROS, this is where FitSURE can assist buyers by providing them with clear information on seat compatibility. It said that the institute’s assessments were made through a data-based approach and real-world testing, ensuring that a particular CRS fitment is tested objectively and comprehensively.
“FitSURE is an important initiative in ensuring that each CRS is installed correctly and is suitable for a specific vehicle model. Through this assessment, parents can make more accurate decisions in choosing the best CRS to ensure the safety of their children while in the vehicle,” said its director-general Dr Siti Zaharah Ishak.
“So far, six vehicle models have been assessed, including the Perodua Alza, Perodua Myvi, Proton Saga, Toyota Vios, Toyota Veloz and Honda City. We also welcome participation from vehicle manufacturers and CRS distributors who are interested so that more models can be assessed, thus providing wider benefits to consumers,” she said.
The institute said that results of this assessment are accessible via www.aseancap.org/crs, where users can check the CRS models that have been tested for compatibility based on their vehicle type.
The use of child car seats in private passenger vehicles was supposed to have become mandatory from January 1, 2020, with a six-month grace period from that date being given for advocacy before enforcement was scheduled to begin. However, the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic meant that the move was never enforced, and it remains on hold indefinitely.
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What you, MIROS need to do is to get the gov to make child seat mandatory. There are too many B40 driving with kids sitting on the lap of the driver and front passenger.
Hebat Miros. Anthony Loke yg takdak tulur wajibkan child car seat.