Page 95 - Motoring World (January 2020)

Strapped In. Always

I ndia is one of the world's most unsafe countries for motorists,

but one simple measure can change a lot - wearing seat
belts. Unfortunately, in India, the presence of seat belts
hasn’t necessarily ensured their use. A study carried out
recently across Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities found that 75 per cent of
passenger vehicle users (driver, co-driver and rear occupants)
don’t wear seat belts, which is shocking. Seatbelts prevent
you from being ejected through the windshield, being thrown
around inside the car and in extreme cases, where the vehicle
rolls over, they keep you strapped in. This is why it is extremely
important that everyone sitting in the car is buckled up; if a
child is present, most modern cars have ISOFIX mounts for this
specific reason. Manufacturers have done their bit by ensuring
vehicles beep and protest if an unbuckled occupant is detected,
but you, dear driver, must strap in yourself. Make it a habit, one
that becomes so involuntary that you don’t even have to think
about it, because a seat belt could very well save your life. Let’s
get out there and make our roads safer, shall we?