Hyderabad: Despite strict enforcement and the points system in place, car drivers are not wearing seatbelts putting their lives at risk. Two accidents in the city recently proved this as it was found that drivers were not wearing seatbelts while driving cars.
Vikarabad Special Branch SI Mohammed Khaleel died after his car crashed into a tree and techie Sai Smaran Reddy died when his hit a parked lorry. In both the incidents the airbags did not open as the drivers were not wearing seatbelts. Police say that though there is a change recently due to awareness programmes, motorists also should cultivate safety habits.
Though wearing a seatbelt is mandatory as per law, many motorists ignore it. The violation is found only when a cop sees them and issues a challan, while driving without helmet or talking on the mobile while driving bikes etc can be captured on cameras and an e-challan can be issued.
Road safety experts said that though cars have safety airbags which open in case of a crash or an accident they are linked to the seatbelt of the driver. They will not open unless the driver wears a seatbelt.
“Wearing a seatbelt can save a person's life. But many ignore it as the chances of getting caught are less,” a police official said. In the accident at Himayathsagar, the speeding car of SI Mohammed Khaleel with trainee constables Keerthi and Mamata in it crashed into a tree, killing Khaleel and Keerthi.
As Khaleel was not wearing a seatbelt, the safety air bags did not open. In a similar accident in Katedan, techie Sai Smaran Reddy did not wear seatbelt. Shamshabad traffic ACP K. Prasad says that if they had they wore seatbelts they might have survived with injuries.
“Any violation will be dealt with strictly. But most of the time people are ignoring seatbelts despite fines and awareness drives. In addition to enforcement motorists should imbibe the safety culture to be safe on roads,” he said.
Saved by seatbelts
October 2016 Former AP Minister Pinnamaneni Venkateswar Rao survived an accident on ORR when his SUV overturned. His wife Sahityavani and their car driver Tenali Swamydas died in the accident. The two were not wearing seatbelts.
February 2016 Actress Pranitha Subash escaped with minor injuries, when the car in which she was travelling hit a road divider and fell into a pit. She and her driver were wearing seatbelts.
