New penalty rules for without seatbelt rear passengers announced by Nitin Gadkari

New rules of penalty Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari made an important announcement at an event organised by Business Standard on September 6 stating that "Like we made it mandatory for all cars to have a seat-belt warning alarm for front passengers, we will now impose the same for rear-seat occupants as well. The irritating beep will compel rear-seat occupants to belt up as well".

The death of famous business tycoon Cyrus Mistry in a car accident throws light on the importance of wearing seatbelts while sitting in a four wheeler for the rear passengers along with the front passengers. The tragic car accident took the lives of former Tata chairperson Mr.Mistry and Jahangir Pandole because while sitting at the back they didn’t consider it essential to strap their seat belts.

Gadkari took a noteworthy step to ensure that this kind of misfortune doesn’t happen in future by notifying the public about a new penalty for not wearing seatbelts in any kind of four-wheeler. This rule will also be applied on rear seat passengers. The detailed penalty structure regarding this new development would be issued in three days.

A fine of Rs 1000 is imposed on the front seat passengers without seatbelt under article 38 of the Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR). People are trapped in a misconception that the lack of dashboard and steering wheel in the rear seats makes it a safer place. Even most of the reputed manufacturers provide only a lap belt for the middle rear sit ignoring the other rear seat.

Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), US- bakljdfasklsed non-for-profit organization had conducted a crash test and concluded that the rear seat passengers would be thrown towards the front if a car collides with a speed of 56 kph or more.

A draft notification issued by the ministry in January this year ordered six airbags in all passenger vehicles from October 1, 2022. The industries are reluctant to this because it would increase the prices of the vehicles. However the alarming rate of increase in accidental death cannot be ignored. For instance accidental deaths has increased by 16.83%, from 133,201 in 2020 to 155,622 in 2021.