Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Jul 14: Responding quickly to the demand from the general public, district superintendent of police (SP) Laxman Nimbargi, issued a circular to the traffic police, making wearing of seatbelts mandatory for car drivers in the district.
The SP took this decision instantly after this issue came to his notice. SP received a complaint from a citizen during weekly phone-in programme that was held on Friday last.
SP Nimbargi said that he would be launching a special drive for 15 days in the district on three issues of wearing seatbelts, vehicles with tint glasses, and removing of name boards from the number plates of non-government's officials.
More than 85 cases have been booked in the city against violation of driving norms, said traffic police. The checking process is continuing in the district. Anyone found driving a vehicle without wearing seatbelt would be violating law and hence he would be booked. The police will fine Rs 100 for the first offence.
Wearing of seatbelts would considerably reduce the rate of injury or deaths in case of accidents. Compulsory wearing of helmets by two-wheeler rider has already been strictly enforced by the police department.
There were complaints during the phone-in programme. Based on this, the district police department took up this initiative. Traffic police have been keeping a close watch on vehicles and also check the unauthorized name boards and number plates of vehicles.