New laws for rear seat belt alarms
The street transport ministry has just lately issued a draft notification, mandating the inclusion of a “rear seat belt alarm” in all automobiles manufactured from 1st April, 2025, onwards. This transfer follows earlier makes an attempt to introduce extra security options, together with three-point rear seat belts and 6 airbags, which had been proposed after the unlucky incident involving former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry’s demise.
Within the wake of Mistry’s accident, investigators highlighted the significance of sporting seat belts, as Mistry was discovered not sporting one on the time of the crash. Nonetheless, the preliminary proposal for necessary six airbags, together with different security measures, didn’t come to fruition, ensuing within the lapse of all the notification.
The current notification solely focuses on the implementation of a rear seat belt alarm, with no new provisions added. Whereas the in-built seatbelt reminder for the driving force and entrance passenger is already necessary, this new requirement goals to boost security consciousness amongst rear seat passengers.
Regardless of present laws stipulating fines for rear seat passengers not sporting seat belts, enforcement stays a problem. Many people are both unaware of the rule or select to ignore it. Moreover, cases of visitors police penalising non-compliant rear seat passengers are rare.
The introduction of the rear seat belt alarm underscores the continuing efforts to prioritise passenger security on the roads. By elevating consciousness and selling compliance with seat belt utilization, authorities goal to mitigate the dangers related to street accidents. This initiative aligns with broader initiatives geared toward enhancing street security requirements and lowering the prevalence of preventable accidents.