Transport Ministry Makes Rear Seatbelt Reminders Mandatory In Cars

The Road Transport Ministry has put up draft standards for rear seatbelt reminders, which would be a mandatory feature soon.

As per the proposed automotive standard, the audio seatbelt reminder will alert the driver and occupants even if any passenger, including on the rear seat, removes the safety-belt buckle later.

The government would come out with the notification for the new safety feature in all cars and the manufacturers will get adequate time to introduce this feature in the new vehicles.

Sources said the changes will make Indian cars compliant with the European cars on this parameter.

According to the proposed amendment in automotive industry standard (AIS) related to additional safety features for vehicles, there would be a three-level warning system for not wearing seatbelt by any of the occupants.

In the ‘first level warning’, a visual alert will be activated as soon as the ignition switch is engaged by the driver and there will be visual warning on the console about occupants not wearing seatbelt. An audible warning can also be added as an option.

The ‘second level warning’ will be visual and audible as soon as the driver starts the vehicle, in case any of the occupants is not wearing the seatbelt.

The third level of warning (safety belt is not fastened) will come as soon as any of the occupants unbuckles the seatbelt.

Soon after the tragic death of industrialist Cyrus Mistry, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had announced the plan to introduce seatbelt reminders for rear passengers.

Investigators had found that Mistry and another occupant who died were at the rear seat and not wearing seatbelts.

The forensic probe into the fatal crash has also recommended mandatory introduction of rear seatbelt reminder and three-point seatbelts for safety of occupants.

Sources said the notification for the three-point seatbelt would also be issued soon. The ministry in February had published the draft notification for “three-point seatbelts for all front-facing passengers in a car, including the middle seat in the rear row”.