The Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) are discussing banning the sale of “dummy buckles,” which are widely available in the market.
According to BERNAMA, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said they’re discussing how each ministry can step up enforcement since selling these seatbelt alarm deactivators goes against road safety rules.
“The use of dummy buckles is not allowed”
Loke pointed out that using a dummy buckle goes against the rules since it means drivers aren’t actually wearing a seatbelt.
“These dummy buckles aren’t allowed. But cracking down on their sale isn’t under this ministry (MOT), it’s under KPDN. We know most new cars have sensors that beep if the seatbelt isn’t worn.”
Earlier, Negeri Sembilan JPJ director Hanif Yusabra Yusuf said using seatbelt alarm deactivators and not wearing seatbelts properly is becoming a worrying trend.
During the Chinese New Year Special Operation, the biggest violation recorded was people not wearing seatbelts with 195 cases in total, with over 30% involving these dummy buckles.
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Proper bus wiring and socket setup are in progress
Loke confirmed that the ban on 3-pin and USB sockets in express buses, which started on November 6 last year, is still in place until the MOT comes up with a new policy and guidelines for wiring installations, as reported by Harian Metro.
He also mentioned that the Energy Commission, along with SIRIM, is working on a proper wiring and socket installation guideline for buses, which could be ready as early as May.
This comes after a tragic incident last year involving a passenger who was electrocuted while trying to charge his phone using a socket on an express bus at Penang Sentral on November 1.
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