Starting September 1, the use of seat belts will become mandatory in buses, including KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation), and lorries, including tippers, as per a decision taken during a review meeting of MVD-Keltron officials chaired by Minister Antony Raju. The move aims to enhance safety standards and reduce the risk of injuries in heavy vehicles. Failure to comply with the seat belt requirement will result in fines, with AI cameras playing a crucial role in enforcing the regulations.
Under the new mandate, both the driver and front seat occupants of heavy vehicles must wear seat belts. A fine of ₹500 will be imposed on those found violating the rule, based on evidence captured by the AI cameras. The decision to implement the seat belt requirement aligns with the central law on road safety, ensuring consistency with nationwide regulations.
In lorries, both front passengers are required to wear seat belts, while in buses with a cabin, both front seat occupants must comply. However, if it is a bus without a cabin, only the driver is obligated to wear a seat belt. It has been noted that some KSRTC buses still feature old-style seats, but efforts will be made to retrofit seat belts in all vehicles to meet the new regulations.
The use of AI cameras has proven effective in detecting various traffic violations, such as riding without a helmet (₹500 fine), not wearing a seat belt (₹500 fine), using a mobile phone while driving (₹2000 fine), running a red signal (₹1000 fine), and carrying more than two passengers on a two-wheeler (₹1000 fine).
However, there have been concerns regarding the follow-up process for violations captured by the cameras. To address this, Keltron, in collaboration with the MVD (Motor Vehicles Department), will allocate additional staff to control rooms to expedite the processing of violations and promptly issue challans.
Discussion about this post