KUALA LUMPUR – The people have been urged to stop using dummy buckles as a seatbelt alarm stopper which can cause the safety features of a car to malfunction, especially in an accident.
The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) said using the accessory can cause safety components – such as airbags – to not function optimally, meaning it will not protect the driver and passengers in an accident.
A Miros study in 2020 showed more than 12% of drivers are using the accessory and if it is not stopped now, the figure will go up further.
Concerned over the matter, Miros – in cooperation with the Transport Ministry and the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) – had conducted collaborative efforts in instilling the message of road safety through a video advising the people to focus on abuse of the dummy seatbelt buckle.
“Dummy buckles are currently a fad among drivers, as they are widely available at convenient stores as well as sales portals at a cheap price.
“In an accident, the dummy buckle can cause the victim to suffer chest injuries from hitting the steering wheel and dashboard or being thrown out of the vehicle, which would be fatal,” he said in a statement today.
The video can be viewed via selected television channels as well as Miros and Finas social media sites apart from its website. – Bernama, May 12, 2021
