Post-COVID-19, Indian customers have shifted from economical and value-for-money cars to safer and feature-rich models. With road quality steadily improving, safety has become one of the top priorities for new car owners. Despite this, India continues to witness an average of 474 deaths every day due to road crashes. This shows how important using basic safety features is alongside having a 5-star rated car. So here is a basic feature that is more important than having a 5-star rated car.
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Safety Feature: Seat Belt
One of the most critical safety features of any new car is the seat belt. Often disregarded, this basic equipment can be the barrier between life and death in a crash. According to a recent survey, not wearing a seatbelt is one of the most common traffic violations in India. Developed in 1959 by an engineer at Volvo, the modern seat belt ensures three points of restraint and prevents the body from being thrown forward in case of a crash.
According to the Indian Motor Vehicle Act, both the driver and passenger are legally required to wear a seatbelt since 2005. Despite the law being in effect for quite some time, there is a noticeable lack of compliance. From fake seat belt clamps to total disregard for safety, we have seen a lot of hacks used to bypass the system. Recently, a high-profile accident that went viral on the internet re-iterated the importance of seatbelts in a car and the poor situation regarding seatbelt usage. According to reports, a popular businessman was killed in the rear seat of his 5-star safety car as he failed to wear a seat belt. This incident forced the government of India to emphasize the mandatory use of seat belts for all passengers.
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Fine For Not Wearing a Seat Belt
Despite new rules and regulations, Indians continue to ignore seat belts in cars. To further discipline drivers, the government increased the fine for this traffic violation from Rs 100 to Rs 1,000 for the first offence. Additionally, different states implement different rules for this violation which includes vehicle seizure to license suspension or up to 3 months imprisonment.
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Tips For Maintaining A Seat Belt
Owners will also have to take care and ensure seatbelts are in perfect condition for use. This includes checking for any signs of wear and ensuring proper fit. Using seat belt covers for enhanced comfort. Using a child seat and top tether for children in the rear seat also goes a long way in enhancing safety.
So, it doesn’t matter if you have a 5-star safety-rated car if you don’t wear a seat belt and follow traffic rules!
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