Thrissur: The new Motor Vehicle Act demands use of seat belts in buses. The rule is included in the article 194-A of the amended Motor Vehicle Act.
Rs 1000 will be charged as fine from passengers who do not wear seat belt. If the bus has no seat belts, the owner of RC book will have to pay Rs 1000 as fine. Rs 1000 will be levied even if one seat has no seat belt.
The passenger vehicle that carries children aged below 14 years will be charged with a fine of Rs 1000 if it lacks seat belt or other safety measures. All buses including school buses in the state have no seat belts at present.
In buses, 25 percent of the seating capacity minus two (driver and conductor seats) is considered as its standing capacity. For example, the standing capacity of 48 seated bus is 11. This condition is made while issuing the permit. Rs 600 per seat and Rs 210 per standing passenger is levied as permit charge during registration.
If more passengers than the permit capacity are travelling in the bus, Rs 200 per every extra passenger can be levied. However, the bus will not be allowed to continue trip and will be taken into custody on the spot after arranging alternate facility for the passengers.
The state government should issue a special order to avoid standing passengers in buses and publish the order in gazette. However, the state Motor Vehicle Department has no plans in this regard.
Joint Transport Commissioner Rajeev Puthalath said that the practicality of implementing seat belts in buses will be examined. The transport department will discuss such conditions that are likely to affect bus service in the entire state and will bring to the attention of central government, he added.
