“It is uncomfortable to wear a seatbelt instead I prefer to drive a little carefully,” says Anirban Lahiri a driver
Ten to twelve people on an average are fined by the Bangalore City Police for not wearing seatbelts. Several people in the city avoid using seatbelts, resulting in injuries during accidents.
The fine charged when caught for the first time is Rs.100, followed by a fine of Rs.300-500 on repeat offences.
. The number of cases booked under the MV (Motor Vehicles) Act in Upparpet Traffic Police station surged from 2,499 cases in 2015 to 2,648 cases till October 2017.
Mahadev Swami, the Inspector of Cubbon Park Traffic Police station said, “Accidents occur because of not wearing seat belts. Fines are taken yet there is no improvement.” He added, “Last year in 2016, there were 124 accidents this year the accidents has increased to 135.”
“We are tired of telling them to wear seat belts. One of the passengers say they prefer to pay the fine than to wear a seat belt.” said Umesh BK, Inspector of Banaswadi Police Station.
“We try to catch people and manage traffic in the best way as we can but, people should be conscious about their life and support the police which is far better than losing one’s life,” says Kshirsagar B, Traffic Police, Indira Nagar.
Inspector Umesh BK mentioned an accident where the father was wearing the seatbelt but his 13 year old daughter was not. This resulted in the death of the child.
“Though the traffic police is charging a fine of a lot of people for not wearing seatbelts, there is room for improvement because most of the people take the matter very casually,” said Sayan, a 21-year old resident of MG Road.“It is very itchy to wear it and we all will die when our time will come, but until I am alive, no seat belts,” said Santosh T.C, a driver.
“Sometimes there is no other way to reduce such problems other than to put a fine, because we aren’t able to put a person into jail just for not wearing seatbelts,” says R. Hitendra Assistant Commissioner of Police Traffic.
“Sometimes, there is no other way to curb such problems other than to charge fines on offenders because we can’t put people in the prison for not wearing seatbelts,” said R.Hithendra, Assistant Comissioner of Police-Traffic.
M.N Sreehari, Former Professor for PG Studies at R V College of Engineering, says, “Not wearing seat belts is not only the problem in Bangalore but all over the world. The police needs to come up with more strict laws so that the drivers wear seat belts and drive. Wearing seat belts accidents and deaths will be reduced.”
M.N Sreehari, Former Professor for PG Studies at R V College of Engineering, says, “Not wearing seat belts is not only the problem in Bangalore but all over the world. The police needs to come up with more strict laws so that the drivers wear seat belts and drive. Wearing seat belts accidents and deaths will be reduced.”
