Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - Live
No scope to enforce belt rule in rear seat, says taxi union
MUMBAI: Four days prior to the implementation of the mandatory rear seat belts in four wheelers, Mumbai Taximen’s union On Thursday wrote to the Mumbai traffic police requesting the rule not be made applicable to taxis in the city. The union has requested the traffic police for a meeting to discuss the matter before taking any action.
“Most passengers travel short distances in taxis; their average distance within city limits is less than 12kms. Taxis are allowed to carry four passengers. With three occupying the rear seat, car manufacturers provide two seat belts in the rear seat. There is no provision for the third passenger to wear the seat belt,” said A L Quadros, General Secretary, Mumbai Taximen’s Union.
“Traffic police must not draw a comparison between private cars and taxis as the accident ratio of taxis is almost nil except for minor collisions.”
On October 14, the traffic police released an order, based on the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act, that wearing rear seat belts will be made mandatory from November 1 onwards across the city.
The death of Cyrus Mistry, the former chairman of Tata Sons, in a road accident in Palghar on September 4 put the focus back on the importance of wearing seat belts.
Mistry was seated in the rear seat with Jehangir Pandole, director at KPMG Global Strategy Group. Both were not wearing seat belts and both died.
A fine of Rs 1,000 will be levied if the seat belt rule is not followed.
Mahesh Patil, additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said, “This is the government’s decision and we are just enforcing the rule upon vehicle owners, passengers and drivers.”
Similarly, the All-India Motor Transport Congress said the infrastructure for installing seat belts in vehicles is not in place and the time duration given to do the same is too less.
“We are asking for six months period to implement the same in all vehicles,” said Bal Malkit Singh, chairman, core committee and former president, (AIMTC).
Singh added, “As this rule needs to be implemented by November 1, with no infrastructure in place to install seat belts there is a chance that fewer vehicles will ply on roads to avoid penalty. This will impact the supply chain or essential commodities and passenger mobility as well.”