Fines For No Seatbelt In Rear Seat & Seatbelt Alarm For Rear Seats Soon: Nitin Gadkari After Cyrus Mistry Crash
Nitin Gadkari said, “Before the end of 2024, my target is to reduce road accidents and fatalities by 50% in the country”. Taking fines is not the motive but spreading awareness is the motive, said Nitin Gadkari on the compulsory use of seat belts for those sitting in the back.
Those sitting in the back of a car and not wearing a seat belt will be fined soon, announced Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday, two days after Cyrus Mistry died in a car crash near Mumbai.
Mr Mistry, former Tata Sons Chairman, wasn’t wearing a seat belt and must have been thrown in front at great velocity once the speeding car crashed into a divider in the Palghar district of Maharashtra on Sunday.
“Already, it’s mandatory to wear seat belt at the rear seat but people are not following it. There will be a siren if the people at the rear seat don’t wear belts like for the front seats. And if they don’t wear belts, there will be a fine,” said Mr Gadkari in an exclusive interview to the leading news channel, stressing that “at any lost, lives have to be saved”.
Taking fines is not the motive but spreading awareness is, said Mr Gadkari on the compulsory use of seat belts for those sitting in the back. He said by 2024 the goal is to reduce the road fatalities by 50 per cent.
“The minimum fine is ₹ 1,000…There are cameras and anywhere people who aren’t following can be caught easily,” said Mr Gadkari.
Asked if compulsory installation of airbags in the back seat will drive up the cost, the Minister underscored that saving lives is vital.
“Cost of 1 airbag is 1,000, for 6, it’s 6,000. With more production, the cost will be reduced. Cost is not important, people’s lives are,” he emphasised.
As per the regulations, airbags are mandatory for the front passenger and the driver in India. As of January 2022, the government has made it mandatory to install 6 airbags in each passenger car with a passenger limit of up to 8.
Celebrities are campaigning for road safety, said the Minister, adding that he seeks cooperation from media.
“I am really very sorry and feeling bad. We should take the lesson and learn from it,” said Mr Gadkari on Cyrus Mistry’s death.
More than 59,000 people have died and 80,000 seriously injured in road accidents in Maharashtra in less than five years, the data released by the highway police revealed today.
According to the report titled ‘Road accidents in India – 2020’, more than 11 per cent of deaths and injuries were caused due to non-usage of seat belts, while 30.1 per cent of deaths and 26 per cent of injuries were caused due to non-usage of helmets in 2020.
Nitin Gadkari’s Top 5 quotes:
- Already, it’s mandatory to wear seatbelt at the rear seat but people are not following it. There will be a siren if the people at the rear seat don’t wear belts, like for the front seats. And if they don’t wear belts, there will be a fine.
- Minimum fine is ₹ 1,000, now the state government can take action using intelligent traffic systems that are already in place.
- One airbag costs ₹ 1,000 – 6 airbags will cost up to ₹ 6,000. When there is more production, the cost will be lower. So the cost is not a big problem
- Before the end of 2024, my target is to reduce road accidents and fatalities by 50% in the country.
- We need improvement in road engineering, automobile engineering, emergency services, education and implementation of the law.
