'Deadly Weapon on the Road' Rear Seat Air Mattress
12 Times Higher Risk of Serious Injury in Accidents with Children
Safety-Threatening Vehicle Accessory, Sales Cannot Be Stopped
An air mattress advertisement photo posted on a shopping mall website. Photo by Online Shopping Mall Homepage Screenshot
[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Recently, Park Hyun-soo (32, pseudonym), who was browsing the internet for necessary items to go on 'chabak (car + lodging)' camping with his family, was shocked when he visited a shopping mall website.
What surprised Park was none other than the air mattress for the back seat. The packaging included phrases such as "essential for long-distance driving" and "for children seated in the back." It implied that since children might get tired during long drives, the entire back seat could be turned into a "floor" to lie down or rest. Several photos suggested that it was okay to use the mattress while driving, which could lead to misunderstandings. Park said, "If you think about it even a little, it's a really dangerous product, but it's being sold without much regulation. Once the mattress is installed, you can't wear a seatbelt. It's terrifying to imagine an accident happening in that state."
These air mattresses have recently gained great popularity thanks to the chabak craze. There are products designed to be installed by folding down all the seats, as well as those tailored to fit perfectly in the back seat. However, these car accessories that help provide comfortable rest can turn into "weapons" during driving. Once the mattress is installed, seatbelts cannot be worn, and since most are made of slippery materials, there is a high risk of serious injury in sudden stops or accidents. According to the "Research on Long-Distance Driving Safety Measures during Lunar New Year Holidays" published this year by Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Traffic Climate Environment Research Institute, if a child is not wearing a seatbelt due to the installation of a back seat mattress and an accident occurs, the probability of serious injury increases by 12 times, and the fatality rate increases by 4.7 times.
Despite these repeated warnings over the years, little has changed. In fact, among the vehicle accessory shopping malls checked on the 27th, very few places that sold the product included caution or warning labels. Some buyers even posted photos of themselves driving with the mattress installed, and some said they always keep the mattress installed.
Among products that threaten the safety of drivers and passengers is the "seatbelt warning silencer clip." Originally intended to extend the length of the belt, it is often used simply by inserting the clip to prevent the seatbelt warning sound from activating. However, there is no way to ban the sale of such products under current regulations because it is difficult to classify the product itself as illegal. Organizations like the Korea Consumer Agency have recommended halting distribution and sales of dangerous products, but without enforcement power, they must rely on sellers' voluntary efforts.
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