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The cost of getting into a car accident can vary from minimal to major, but what about the cost of not making it home?
Volvo Car Malaysia, a brand renowned for its safety, has introduced the "Selamat Calculator", an online assessment to get Malaysians thinking about their "selamat value". Or, how much it would mean for them and their loved ones to reach home safely.
This is part of Volvo's larger "Selamat" campaign which focuses on road safety awareness and responsible driving. Developed together with Mr Money TV, the calculator estimates the emotional and financial impact a person's absence could leave on their family, partner, or dependants.
The calculator starts by asking users about their income, lifestyles, and responsibilities
The details required include:
- Age
- Income
- Career stage
- Dependants
- Lifestyle and responsibilities
Based on the answers, users receive a safety risk profile and an estimate of the financial and emotional consequences their absence could create.
Participants are also grouped into one of four profiles:
- The backbone of the family
- The co-pilot in a partnership
- The independent soloist
- The climber building their future
Volvo explained that the goal is not to place a value on human life, but to remind people that careless driving affects more than just themselves.
Volvo also said the campaign is meant to make safety feel more human
Patricia Yaw, Sales & Marketing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, said the campaign was designed to encourage people not to take their safety for granted.
"Nothing is worth more than your life, but there are still times when we forget and take our safety for granted — drivers are humans after all," she said.
"The Selamat Calculator isn't meant to put a price on a life, but to act as a gentle reminder to appreciate the value of our presence and what stands to be lost in our absence."
She added that the true value of a person's "Selamat" is measured through "the people we hold close and the accomplishments we make."
Mr Money TV CEO and co-founder Peter Yong said people often prioritise luxuries while overlooking simpler decisions that keep them safe
"At the end of the day, financial literacy is about more than managing numbers; it's about how we value our most precious resource — our lives," said Yong.
"We often prioritise luxuries while overlooking the silent 'investments' that keep us around to enjoy them."
He added that simple habits such as buckling seatbelts, getting enough rest, and exercising patience behind the wheel are some of the most important choices drivers can make.
The Selamat Calculator launches alongside Volvo Car Malaysia's "Selamat Driving Experience" event taking place from 16 to 17 May 2026
If you want your own "Selamat" calculation, visit this website to use the calculator.
