Interestingly, the notification for mandatory rear seat belt warning makes no provision for side facing seats.
The Indian government’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued a draft notification on mandating the usage of rear seat belt reminders in all passenger vehicles. The last date for public comments on the draft rules is October 5, according to the notification.
Road safety in India has come into focus these days, following the tragic death of Cyrus Mistry in a car crash. The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, had announced that his ministry will be looking at making a seat belt warning alarm system mandatory for rear-seat passengers and a notification on the same will also be issued.
- Rear passenger seat belt warning reminders to be mandatory soon
- No provision for side facing rear passengers
- Notification does not give details on penalties
What does the draft notification say?
According to the draft, amendments to the Automotive Industry standards (AIS156) include making seat belt reminders mandatory for all ‘front facing passengers’ as part of the standard safety equipment in M and N category of vehicles. While Gadkari had announced that there will be an additional penalty imposed on not wearing a seat belt, this has not been included in the draft notification.
Draft notification for six airbags released earlier this year
Earlier this year, the ministry had issued a draft notification to mandate six airbags in all passenger vehicles with a seating capacity of up to eight occupants, starting October 1, 2022.
Uber, Ola direct their drivers to enforce rear seat belt usage
Amid increasing focus on rear passenger safety, ride-hailing giants Uber and Ola have directed their drivers to ensure rear seat belts in all their vehicles are functional.
