Taxi union requests Mumbai police to postpone rear seat belt rule till year-end

Mumbai Taximen's Union, one of the largest unions representing the black and yellow taxis that ply in the city, has requested the police administration to extend the deadline for the rear seat belt mandate until the end of this year. In a letter to the traffic police department on Saturday, the Union highlighted that since many taxi operators have removed the seat belts, it needs to be fixed again to their vehicles. However, seat belts are not available in the market and the OEMs have therefore been requested to supply the same.   

Mumbai police made safety belts mandatory for rear seat occupants in the car beginning the start of this month. It attracts penal action under section 194(B)(1) of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, if not adhered to. The notification from the police also states that all motor vehicles that do not have seat belts must install it for all commuters. 

Earlier in October, the union had written to the police department and requested not to make the rules applicable for city taxis. The letter had said that most passengers travel for short distances in the taxis, averaging about 12 kilometres. It added that though four persons are allowed to travel in a taxi, three of them sit in the rear seat. “There is no provision for a third seat in the rear seat,” the letter said.  

The notification from the police has come in after the death of former Tata Group Chairman Cyrus Mistry whose car met with an accident while being driven from Palghar to Mumbai. Two persons, including Mistry, died in the accident. Both these persons were seated in the rear of the car and were found not wearing seat belts.