Mumbai: Seatbelt Rule Unacceptable To Taxi Associations
Mumbai, 28th October 2022: Mumbai Taximen’s Union has stated in a letter sent to the Joint Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, that this Central Motor Vehicle Rule is invalid while opposing the action after the traffic police made seat belts mandatory in four-wheelers from November 1.
It was stated that seat belt policy enforcement should not be compared to black-and-yellow taxis. It has also been explained that there are endless difficulties and some issues which are impossible to implement.
Black and yellow taxis are very common in Mumbai. The passengers traveling through it are mainly for short-distance travels. Four passengers travel in a taxi. There are two seatbelts provided for rear-seat passengers. Out of the three passengers sitting in the back, even the passengers sitting in the middle seat are being made to fasten their seatbelts, compulsorily.
The Mumbai Taximen’s Union has stated in a letter sent to the Mumbai Police Commissioner that the central policy should not be compared with private taxis. The taxi accident rate is zero in the Mumbai metropolis. The average speed of a vehicle in the city is less than 12 kmph. Taking these issues into consideration, the letter has requested that seat belts should not be made compulsory for rear-seat passengers and this Central Motor Vehicle Rule should not be applied to black and yellow taxis.
