Mumbai police makes seat belts mandatory for driver, co-passengers from November 1

Mumbai Traffic Police on October 14, issued an order making it compulsory to use seat belts for all passengers seated in vehicles in city from vember 1. It has also directed all motor vehicle owners to install seat belt facilities for all commuters by vember 1.

A statement from official release of Mumbai traffic police re, "As per Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, under section 194(b) (1) Whoever drives a motor vehicle without wearing a safety belt or carries passengers t wearing seat belts shall be punishable. Accordingly, to install seat belt facilities in Motor vehicles which do t have seat belt facilities for all Commuters, period is being given till date 01/11/2022."

In its order, city's traffic police said, "All motor vehicle drivers and all commuters in vehicles, whoever travel on ros of Mumbai City are hereby informed that it will be mandatory for drivers and all passengers to wear seat belts while travelling from 01/11/2022, failing to which strict action will be taken against violators under section 194 (B) (1) of Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act."

It is pertinent to mention that death of former chairman of Tata Sons Cyrus Mistry in a ro accident in Palghar, Maharashtra on September 4, brought attention back to need of using seat belts. tably, both Mistry and Jehangir Pandole who was siting in back seats when accident happened, were t wearing seat belts and both did t survive.