According to a report by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros), an agency under the Transport Ministry, children transported in private vehicles, such as cars, vans and four-wheel drives, are among the most vulnerable on the road.
The study highlights that 43.8% of casualties among children aged one to four, and 30.2% among those aged five to nine, are from this group.
With road safety a growing concern, these findings underscore the importance of child passenger protection in private vehicles.
In response to rising child fatalities in road accidents, the Transport Ministry has amended the Road Transport Act 1978 – Motor Vehicles (Safety Seat-belts) (Amendment) Rules 2019.
This mandates that children who weigh less than 36 kg, are shorter than 135 cm, or are under 10 years old, must use child car seats or child restraint systems (CRS) when traveling in cars.
Eris Chew, representing Combi Malaysia said they strongly encourage parents to use child restraint systems now although the Transport Ministry is still evaluating mandatory child car seat.
“CRS has proven effective in reducing both injury severity and the risk of fatality for children during accidents.”
Chew also acknowledged the barriers Malaysian families face in adopting CRS, including perceived high costs and limited awareness.
“At Combi Malaysia, we’re committed to bridging this gap by raising awareness and providing accessible, certified safety solutions that families can rely on.”
At a launch event at Combi Malaysia’s flagship store in Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 8, 2024, the brand introduced its latest innovation, the CrossAge 360 – the first Japanese safety car seat designed for children from birth up to 10 years old.
This CRS, tested to meet the latest safety standards (European Standard No. R129), offers convenience and peace of mind to parents with features like a 360° revolving seat and easy one-hand swivel operation, allowing parents to safely and easily get their child in and out of the car.
Chew said the Japanese baby brand is renowned for its dedication to child safety, quality and innovative design.
“At Combi Malaysia, we’re proud to build on over six decades of expertise to bring parents products that prioritise safety and enhance the parenting journey. We hope to set a new standard for child passenger safety in Malaysia.”
