Proton Extends Timeline For Free Rear Centre Lap Belt Installation

PROTON yesterday announced an extension of the end date of its free rear centre lap belt installation service from 31 December 2011 to 31 January 2012, as part of its ongoing Rear Centre Lap Belt Campaign. Since the Government first announced in June 2008 a new ruling to make it compulsory for vehicles to be fitted with the safety device, PROTON had been installing rear centre lap belts at no cost to owners of Proton models affected by this, which are the Saga LMST and Gen.2 models manufactured between year 2004 and 2008.
“We would like to urge our customers with the affected cars, and Malaysians in general, to not only comply with the new ruling to avoid getting fined by the authorities, but to adopt the practice of using seat belts for rear occupants in the name of safety. We also urge parents to take up the habit of ensuring that their children who are seated at the back are properly belted up,” said Dato’ Sri Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir.
Dato’ Sri Haji Syed Zainal Abidin added that the move was crucial, as research had shown that rear lap belts are 32 percent more effective in reducing fatalities when compared to unrestrained back seat occupants. Furthermore, rear lap belts help prevent unrestrained occupants from being thrown out of the vehicle in the event of a crash.
In September 2011, PROTON embarked on a massive outreach programme, consisting of road shows and other on-ground activities around the country to create awareness on this. This included setting up special hospitality and safety marquees at highway rest stop areas in Dengkil, Ayer Keroh, Gunung Semanggol and Temerloh, and pamphlet distribution at selected tolls in collaboration with the National Road Safety Department.
And to further intensify efforts, the PROTON Mobile Teams – which consisted of eight teams of four technical personnel – were also dispatched beginning early this month to used car outlets and other locations such as mosques, hypermarkets, petrol stations around the country to reach out to Proton car owners. However, only about 17 percent out of the 225,930 affected Proton vehicles have been installed with the rear centre lap belt, to date. this extension, Proton car owners who have yet to get the rear centre lap belt installed can make an appointment at their nearest authorized PROTON Service Centres to have it done. Installation will take approximately 15 to 20 minutes per vehicle. For enquiries and further details, customers can contact Proton i.Care at 1-300-880-888, email to [email protected], or visit www.proton-edar.com.my