Seat belt a must for vehicles crossing Mum-pune toll nakas

MUMBAI: All vehicles crossing toll nakas along the Mumbaipune expressway will have to strictly follow the seat belt rule. A team of IRB Infra (private company) volunteers are stationed at various toll nakas to allow vehicles only if the driver and front passenger seat occupants are wearing seatbelts.

Moreover, all state transport buses have been asked to strictly follow rules while driving on the highways and expressways across the state. The Regional Transport Office (RTO) on Wednesday conducted a meeting with Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), Public Works Department, traffic police and highway police along with other social organisations to partake in the awareness and counselling drives along Mumbai-pune Expressway and National Highway 48 or Old Pune Highway.

MSRDC has appointed IRB to place 30 volunteers each at Khalapur, Shendung, Varsoli, Somatane and Urse toll nakas. “They will ensure that passengers in every vehicle crossing the toll naka is wearing a seat belt. This includes those on the passenger seat as it has been noted that they are the ones often defaulting. This will be implemented in buses that provide seatbelts wherein passengers will also have to mandatorily wear seat belts. The impact of accidents is more when seatbelts are not worn,” said Bharat Kalaskar, RTO officer, Tardeo Officer.

Moreover, a special team has been appointed by the RTO in the 15km distance between Lonavla and Khalapur. This stretch is a slope where many end up putting their vehicles on neutral gear and drive to save fuel.