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  • Centre writes to Amazon, asks it to stop sale of seat belt alarm blockers

    National
    Centre writes to Amazon, asks it to stop sale of seat belt alarm blockers


     

    Digital Desk: Nitin Gadkari, the
    Union minister for highways and road transportation, told Reuters that the
    Union government has requested that Amazon stop selling gadgets that turn off
    seat belt alarms. He added that this request was made owing to "possible
    safety implications."


    Gadkari in an interview said  that "meta clips available on Amazon are inserted in seat belt slots to
    bypass the alarm that usually keeps pinging when seatbelts are not in use while
    a car is being driven."

     

    "People purchase these clips in
    order to avoid wearing seat belts. We have instructed Amazon to cease selling
    these, he added.


    The senior minister's comments come
    after his announcement earlier this week that the government has decided to
    outlaw all types of seat belt alarm stoppers across the nation.


    The usage or non-use of seat belts
    in cars has been a hot issue of debate following the death of industrialist
    Cyrus Mistry in a car accident on September 4 near Mumbai. The local police
    claimed that Mistry, who was seated in the back seat, did not fasten his seat
    belt, citing an early investigation.

     

    Gadkari said on September 6 that seat belt use will be required
    for all passengers, adding that those who disobey the law will face
    consequences. The minister added that the government will also require rear
    seatbelt beepers.

     























    India imposes a $1,000 punishment per person for failing to
    use a seat belt, whether in the front or the back. The law is rarely followed,
    though.