The Mumbai Traffic Police had given time to all vehicle owners who do not have seat-belt facility for all to install them by the deadline of October 31.
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 carries passengers not wearing the same shall be liable for punishment.
From Tuesday, all motor vehicle drivers and commuters in such vehicles on Mumbai roads must compulsorily wear the seatbelts or face punitive action under the laws.
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 vehicleowners to implement it.
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 seat-belts in the rear seats.
Last month, Union Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari had declared that henceforth wearing seat-belts would be mandatory for all passengers in a car failing which penalty would be imposed.
