Jamshedpur, Jan. 12: After carrying out several campaigns against helmetless driving, the district traffic cops have now focussed on car driver who are flouting traffic rules. The traffic police launched a drive against without seat-belt drivers across at Jubilee Park on Saturday.
Over 100 car owners and drivers were caught without seat-belts while driving a car at five separate points where the drive was being carried out. Of the five checking points located in Sakchi, Bistupur, Golmuri, Jugsalai and Mango areas, the traffic police earned penalty from the car owners.
Deputy superintendent of police (traffic) Shivendra Kumar said that a drive is being conducted for seat-belt checking across the city. Such drive against the car-owners will continue until the drivers make it a habit for the car drivers to fix seat-belts before setting out.
Kumar said there are over one lakh four-wheelers, including SUV and vans in the steel city, where 70 percent drivers do not fasten car-belts while riding in the city roads.
�Wearing seat belts while driving reduces fatalities by about 60 per cent and injuries by nearly 50 per cent during mishaps. It doubles the chances of survival in a serious accident and prevents occupants from being ejected out from the vehicle in case of an impact. After the enforcement of the helmet rule, the focus has turned to wearing seat belts,� noted an official.
The traffic cop stopped every passing car through the checking point. If the driver of the four-wheelers were not found fastened with the seat-belt, the cops forced the car to enter into the police station premises for prosecution.
The driver and co-passengers in four wheelers must wear seat belts as it is mandatory under the Indian Motor Vehicles Act. The penalty for not wearing a seat belt while driving is Rs. 100 for the first offence and Rs. 300 for repeat offences, according to the police.
Traffic police personnel said that the vehicle driver must ensure seat belts are compulsorily worn by the occupants of the car. Keeping the safety of children in mind, he said they should be discouraged from sitting in the front seat.
Meanwhile, during the drive a jam-like situation worsened during rush hours at the roundabout which is near the Bistupur police station gate. The roundabout witnesses more than 1.5 lakh vehicles crossing it daily. The worst sufferers were the school students who had to struck in the vans after being caught in the traffic jam. Usually, during rush hours traffic cops are deputed at the roundabout to control traffic at various approach points to the roundabouts.
But unfortunately, today there was none as they were busy nabbing other violators at different traffic check post. Traffic DSP meanwhile said that lack of manpower is also one of the reasons for regular jam.
