When accidents occur on the road, it can be easy to pin the blame entirely on the driver. But what about the other passengers inside the vehicle? It can be easy to relax when you’re a passenger being driven around, but when it comes to car safety, everyone should play their part. So, today, we’re looking at 7 safety tips for passengers to keep in mind the next time they’re being driven around. 

1. Seat belts on

In Malaysia, it’s been a long-standing “tradition” for the back seat passengers to not wear a seatbelt. However, it’s been proven that seatbelts really do keep passengers safer. Malaysians should be aware now that starting from January 2020, it is a requirement for even the back seat passengers to have their seatbelt on at all times, or risk an RM300 fine per passenger found without wearing their seatbelts. 

2. Turn down the music

Listening to your favourite tunes on the radio while you’re on the road can be very therapeutic, especially when you’re stuck in traffic. However, this is also the easiest way to distract the driver. When you’re in charge of selecting the music in the car, make sure that it’s not too much of a headbanger, or too loud, so that the driver can still hear what is going on outside the car. 

3. Keep all doors closed

This probably goes without saying but passengers should always, ALWAYS keep all their doors closed. Of course, normal people will keep their doors closed when the car is moving, but there are those who are more impatient when it comes to the car stopping, especially when pulling into a parking spot. Make sure you keep seated and do not open the doors until the car has come to a complete stop and the car is turned off.

4. No groupfies

In the modern age of the smartphone, it can be very fun to take a selfie or a groupfie with your friends in the car. However, you should really wait until the car is not moving before you do so. Taking a picture while the car is moving can be dangerous if the driver also wants to be a part of it. Plus, it’s not very nice to have a shaky blurry selfie, right? Just take a groupfie when the car is parked for the safest and best photo.

5. Don’t wear shiny things

It’s nice to be able to wear shiny things, but when you’re in the car and with Malaysia’s glaring sunlight, even the smallest of items can blind the driver. If you’re sitting next to the driver, be careful not to wear anything that may reflect the sun. Turning your hand the wrong way could catch the light off your watch or your jewellery and temporarily blind the driver, which could lead to an accident. 

6. Avoid sudden noises

The most dangerous thing for a driver is when his or her passengers make sudden noises. It can be whether you’re squealing over the latest K-pop news or fawning over an adorable dog video. These kinds of sudden noises can cause alarm to the driver and may result in accidents. 

7. Don’t move unexpectedly

Just like noises, sudden movements are just as equally distracting to the driver. Try to keep your movements at a minimum, and even when you’re giving directions, try to use verbal cues instead of pointing. Also try to keep passing objects, like food or the charging cable around when the car is moving. Any sudden or unexpected movements can be a recipe for an accident. 

With these 7 simple tips for passengers, you can be sure that your next ride will be as safe as can be. What do you think? Leave a comment below!