Explained | Seat belts, head restraints and safety regulations

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained | Seat belts, head restraints and safety regulations” published in The Hindu on 6th September 2022

What is the News?

The death of Cyrus P. Mistry, former Chairman of Tata Sons in a car crash has turned the focus on compulsory use of seat belts in cars, including by passengers in the rear seat.

What are the functions of a seat belt?

The seat belt came into existence in 1959 after Swedish engineer Nils Bohlin invented the V-type three-point seat belt at the behest of Volvo. 

The seat belt performs many functions, notably slowing the occupant at the same rate as the vehicle, distributing the physical force in a crash across the stronger parts of the body such as the pelvis and chest, and preventing collisions with objects within the vehicle and sudden ejection.

What is the importance of wearing a rear seat belt?

As per the World Health Organisation, the use of rear seat belts can prevent lower the risk of death in the rear seat by up to 25%. 

Not only this, it can also prevent excess injury or death for the front seat passenger as the rear seat passengers won’t topple on the front seat passengers. 

What does the law say about wearing a rear seat belt?

Rule 138(3) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 makes it mandatory for the rear passengers too to wear seatbelts. 

Further, non-wearing of seat-belts by the driver or passengers has been made punishable with a fine of one thousand rupees according to Section 194B(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (as amended by the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019).

Draft Rules on Seat Belts: In February 2022, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a draft notification providing for three-point seat belts to be provided in all vehicles coming under the M1 category (motor vehicle used for the carriage of passengers, comprising not more than eight seats) vehicles manufactured from October 1. 

– Also, it stipulated relevant Indian Standards to be followed by the manufacturers for both seat belts and reminder systems alerting occupants to wear them.