STOP SALE OF CAR SEAT BELT ALARM STOPPER CLIPS, 5 E-COMMERCE SITES TOLD

NEW DELHI: The consumer protection regulator on Friday ordered five e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, Flipkart, and Snapdeal, to remove car seat belt alarm stopper clips that compromise the safety of consumers.

The decision was taken after the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in a letter to the consumer affairs ministry highlighted the blatant sale of car seat belt alarm stopper clips and requested action against the errant vendors.

Notably, it is mandatory to wear seat belts under Rule 138 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 and the sale of items that compromise passenger safety, such as car seat belt alarm stopper clips, can be unsafe and dangerous.

“As per the latest report published by the MoRTH, more than 16,000 persons were killed in road accidents in 2021 due to not wearing seat belt, of which 8,438 were drivers and the remaining 7,959 were passengers,” the Ministry of Consumer Affairs said in a statement.

Moreover, the Central Consumer Protection Authority has requested chief secretaries and district collectors to take appropriate action against the manufacture or sale of car seat belt alarm stopper clips to prevent loss of life or severe injury to consumers, the ministry added.

Approximately, 39,231 people were injured out of which 16,416 were drivers and 22,818 were passengers.

The report further provides that young adults in the age group of 18-45 accounted for more than one-third of victims in accident cases, the government added.

Using these clips can also lead to insurers denying claims due to the claimant’s negligence.