New Delhi: The International Road Federation (IRF), a global road safety organization, has urged the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to mandate the use of seat belts in all heavy vehicles, including passenger buses and school buses, to reduce casualties and injuries in road accidents.
The IRF has proposed this mandate in response to a situation where numerous passengers are losing their lives in bus accidents. In a letter submitted to the Central government, the IRF emphasized the necessity of mandating seat belts in school buses, heavy vehicles, etc. They also highlighted the lower death rates in countries where seat belts are required on buses.
According to the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, seat belts are already mandatory for heavy vehicles in the country. In line with this, a directive issued by the Central government states that from June 2023, drivers and side seat passengers of heavy vehicles must wear seat belts.
The IRF’s letter suggests that by making seat belts mandatory in heavy vehicles such as passenger buses and school buses, the death rate from accidents could be minimized.
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