Seat belts compulsory for all car passengers in Mumbai from today; punitive action against violators

Starting today, November 1, seat belts for all passengers in a car have been made compulsory in Mumbai. According to Mumbai Traffic Police, those found without seat belts in a car will face punitive action.

"The Mumbai Traffic Police shall deploy special teams at vantage points to check the compliance to the rule, make random checks of vehicles on the two highways and other roads, at key signals or junctions to ensure all follow the new safety rule," said a department official.
 
The order was issued on October 14 following the amendment to the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act`s Section 194(b)(1), which has mandated that any person driving without a seat belt or carrying passengers not wearing the same shall be liable for punishment.

The Mumbai Traffic Police had given time to all vehicle owners who do not have seat-belt facilities for all to install them by the deadline of October 31.

Top automobile experts are skeptical that the city is still "not fully prepared" for it. Western India Automobile Association (WIAA) Chairman Emeritus and ex-Member of Parliament, Y.P. Trivedi lauded the move as "very positive from the safety aspect" but feels enough time was not given to the vehicle owners to implement it.

"There should have been a proper awareness and education drive before implementing this decision. Mumbai is not fully ready for this regime and it will create problems and spur shady activities on the roads from tomorrow," Trivedi, who is former President of All India Automobile Association, told IANS.

He suggested that the police and transport authorities should adopt a lenient attitude with the offenders at least till December 31, and thereafter clamp down as per laws on the violators as many of the old vehicles still don`t have seatbelts in the rear seats.
 
Sensitising errant four-wheeler drivers and co-passengers will be the focus of the police as the rule to strap on seat belts in cars in Mumbai comes into force from November 1, a Traffic police official said on Monday.

The implementation comes nearly two months after the death of eminent industrialist Cyrus P. Mistry in a road accident on September 4 ostensibly in a speeding vehicle while travelling from Gujarat to Mumbai, when he was not wearing a seatbelt.