According to sources speaking to PTI, the Delhi Traffic Police fined 17 motorists on Wednesday for failing to buckle up in the backseats of their vehicles. According to a senior police officer, the police conducted a drive on Barakhamba Road near Connaught Place in central Delhi from 11 am to 1 pm to check for compliance with Section 194B (usage of safety belts and the sitting of children) of the Motor Vehicles Act. Each of the offenders received a Rs 1,000 fine.

After Cyrus Mistry, a former chairman of Tata Sons, died in a car accident on September 4 in Maharashtra's Palghar district while not wearing a seat belt in the back of his Mercedes, the traffic police of the nation's capital organised the drive. "The legal provisions were already there but it has become a topic of discussion after the recent incident," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi Traffic), Aalap Patel. 

Additionally, the Delhi Traffic Police is already engaged in a campaign to raise public awareness of the importance of using seat belts while simultaneously pursuing legal action where necessary. Nitin Gadkari, the minister of road transport and highways, stated earlier this month that the government is aiming to make rear seatbelt alarm warning systems required. While the car is moving, a persistent beeping sound will notify the driver and passengers if anyone is not wearing a seatbelt.

Along with other initiatives his ministry aims to take to improve commuter safety on Indian roads, the minister also discussed road safety in the country. More than 15,000 people died in accidents because they were not using seatbelts in the back, according to recent research by the Centre.

Almost all vehicles sold in India at the moment have seatbelt alert warnings for passengers in the front row. In contrast, the backseats do not employ the same alarm system.

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