Ban Sale Possession Of Dummy Buckles Govt Urged

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30% of the 195 offenders caught for not using their seat belts during a recent traffic operation over the Chinese New Year period were found to have used dummy buckles to avoid triggering the seatbelt alarm. (File pic)
PETALING JAYA: A road safety expert and a consumer activist have urged Putrajaya to immediately ban the sale and possession of “dummy buckles”, a device used to silence seat belt warning alarms in vehicles.
Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) chairman Wong Shaw Voon said there was a need to outlaw the sale and use of the item given the ease with which it can be purchased on e-commerce platforms.
“Seat belts and seat belt reminders were not designed to make life difficult, they were designed to save lives. Everyone should be saying no to using these dummy buckles,” he told FMT.
Wong urged the domestic trade and cost of living ministry to act on those selling the accessory, and for e-commerce platforms to be proactive and remove listings of the product.
Malaysia Consumers Movement secretary-general Herby Dhillon said apart from banning the sale of the item, the government should make its use in vehicles illegal.
He said motorists must understand that seat belts are designed to reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accident and that laws making their use mandatory have been put in place for their own protection.
“Using dummy buckles is a negligent act that breaks the law. Only selfish and careless people use such items. There is no valid justification for its use.
“The possession and sale of this product must be made illegal, given the number of road accidents, including fatal ones. Senseless loss of life can be mitigated if drivers discharge their duty of care,” he said.
Dummy buckles are inserted into belt slots to prevent an alarm from triggering whenever a seat belt is not worn. Checks by FMT found that the items could be purchased at RM5 or less on two major e-commerce platforms.
Yesterday, Negeri Sembilan road transport department director Hanif Yusabra Yusuf expressed concern over a rising trend of vehicle owners using the buckles, adding that offenders often gave the excuse that seat belts were uncomfortable
He said the highest number of notices issued during a special Chinese New Year operation was for the offence of not wearing a seatbelt. Over 30% of the 195 offenders were found to be using the accessory.
Despite this, Wong said the majority of motorists do buckle-up.
He said a study by Miros a few years ago found that about 85% of drivers in major cities like Kuala Lumpur would put on their seat belts, although this percentage was not as high in rural areas.
Wong said even if dummy buckles were banned in Malaysia, some motorists may attempt to purchase them from elsewhere, including Thailand.
“This is where enforcement is important. JPJ must conduct checks and inspections on the road.
“Members of the public also play an important role. If their friends or family use dummy buckles, they must advocate for them to just wear their seatbelts,” he said. - FMT

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