The
Road Transport and Safety Bill 2014 has emphasised a lot on safety, requiring
four wheeler occupants to wear seat belts. Gone will be the days when mothers
cold sit in front with their babies in their arms while being driven around town.
Children below eight years old will not be able to sit in the front seat of a
vehicle. As for those between eight to
14, will have to wear a seat belt even if seated at the back.
Practically
speaking, at least in the Capital, the seat belt norm is violated not just by
ordinary citizens but also by those driving defence vehicles, police vehicles, ambulance vehicles and government vehicles. Mr
Nitin Gadkari, the Minister for Road Transport & Highways will have to
address this issue and keep in mind that the law should be fair to both the common
man as well as those wielding power.
The
bill says that an adult is guilty of an offence if such person does not wear a
seat belt, as a driver or passenger, when driving or riding in a motor vehicle
on a road. Thus any person who drives or rides in a motor vehicle without
wearing a seat belt is guilty of an offence, and no person other than the
person actually committing the contravention is guilty of an offence by reason
of the contravention.
Except
as provided by regulations, a parent or guardian of the child, or in the
absence of such parent or guardian, the driver of the motor vehicle must not
without reasonable excuse allow a child below the age of eight years to occupy
the front seat of a motor vehicle when the vehicle is in motion.
A
child above the age of eight years can occupy the front seat of a motor vehicle
wearing a seat belt.
A
child under the age of 14 years sitting in the rear of a motor vehicle must
wear a seat belt in conformity with regulations.