Centre directs Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho to stop selling car seat belt alarm stoppers

Hyderabad: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), under the direction of chief commissioner Nidhi Khare, issued orders to Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Shopclues, and Meesho for engaging in unfair commercial practices and violating consumers’ rights.

The top five e-commerce platforms have been ordered to stop selling vehicle seat belt alarm stopper clips as it violates the 2019 Consumer Protection Act (CCPA). By ceasing the alert sound when seat belts are not being used, the clips endanger consumer life and safety.

Action against online marketplaces

The Department of consumer affairs brought the problem of the selling of vehicle seat belt alarm stopper clips to the attention of the CCPA via a letter from the Ministry of road transport and Highways (MoRTH). The letter called attention to the problem of the open sale of vehicle seat belt alarm stopper clips and asked for action against errant vendors and online marketplaces as well as the publication of an alert.

Furthermore, it is required to use a seat belt per Rule 138 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules of 1989. Online sales of these products, which jeopardise passengers’ safety by turning off the alert when seat belts aren’t used, can be risky and harmful to people’s lives and safety.

Challenge to acquire motor insurance

It is important to note that employing vehicle seat belt alarm stopper clips can also provide a challenge for customers seeking compensation under motor insurance plans. An insurance provider may reject the claim by pointing to the claimant’s irresponsibility in using the clips as the reason for the denial. However, when a seatbelt is worn, the airbag may offer the necessary amount of cushioning without striking the occupants with full power, serving as a protective shield in the event of crashes.

Disguising the product

The CCPA is tasked with defending, advancing, and upholding the rights of a class of consumers. As a result, the CCPA became aware of the problem of the sale of car seat belt alarm stopper clips and using its keen eye discovered that the clips were being sold flagrantly on several e-commerce platforms in an approachable manner, in direct violation of the Consumer Protection Act 2019, and posing a serious risk to the consumers’ lives. During the trials, it was also discovered that some merchants were disguising the clips as bottle openers and cigarette lighters in order to sell them.

Ban on all kinds of seat belt alarm stoppers

Given the impact of the product on customers’ safety and priceless lives, CCPA forwarded the case to DG Investigation (CCPA). The CCPA has issued directions to the e-commerce platforms, instructing them to permanently delist all car seat belt alarm stopper clips and related motor vehicle components that jeopardise the safety of passengers and the general public. This directive is based on the recommendation in the investigation report and submissions made by e-commerce entities. Additionally, they were instructed to submit information on the sellers and a compliance report regarding the instructions, as well as to inform CCPA of the actions taken against errant sellers of such items.

All five e-commerce businesses submitted compliance reports in accordance with the CCPA’s directives. A total of 13,118 listings of vehicle seat belt alarm stopper clips have been removed from the e-commerce platforms as a result of the CCPA’s action. The delistings specifics are as follows:

Traffic accidents due to lack of seat belts

Given that more than 16,000 people died in traffic accidents in 2021 as a result of not wearing a seat belt, 8,438 of whom were drivers and the remainder 7,959 passengers, the action taken in the current circumstances becomes relevant. Additionally, there were about 39,231 injuries, of which 16,416 were to drivers and 22,818 were to passengers. The survey also states that more than one-third of road accident casualties were young adults between the ages of 18 and 45.

Safeguards

In order to prevent consumer fatalities or serious injuries, the CCPA has written letters to the chief secretaries and district collectors pleading with them to take appropriate legal action against the manufacture and sale of car seat belt alarm stopper clips. The CCPA has also asked for the submission of a report on the steps taken to safeguard customers’ lives.

Advisory issued

The CCPA has distributed an advisory to all stakeholders, including the chief secretaries of all the states and Union Territories, the secretary of MoRT&H, and DPIIT, in order to avert the significant loss of life to the general population. Car seat belt alarm stoppers should not be manufactured, sold, or listed by e-commerce entities, industry associations, or voluntary consumer organisations.

What is a seat belt alarm stopper and how does that work?

The sound that reminds the driver and passengers to fasten their seat belts is silenced by clips known as seat belt alarm stoppers. Once it is inserted into the seat belt buckle, the attachment, in the opinion of experts, “fools” the seat belt locking mechanism into thinking everyone in the car has worn a seatbelt.

In India, most cars include front-passenger seat belt warning mechanisms. Some even stop moving if the front passengers are not wearing their seat belts correctly, although the people in the backseat cannot use this safety function.

4 tips to follow to use seat belts properly

· The upper thighs, not the stomach, must be where the lap belt fits tightly.

· The shoulder belt shouldn’t cross the neck or face.

· It should fit snugly across the shoulder and chest.

· Never wear the shoulder belt behind the back or under the arm since doing so might result in serious injury in the event of an accident.