Other States
-
New Delhi
Time now to fasten your seat belts
By Sujay Mehdudia
NEW DELHI, DEC. 11. To inculcate the habit of safe driving, the Delhi Government has now made it mandatory for the driver and front seat passenger in all motor vehicles to wear seat belts while moving on the Capital's roads.
Though it was all along compulsory to use seat belts, the rule was never really enforced by the traffic police. No longer. From now on, those who do not comply with the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act would be fined Rs. 100 the first time and Rs. 300 for the second offence.
All government employees have been ordered to ensure that they wear seat belts while driving.
Acknowledging that Delhiites are yet to develop the habit of wearing seat belts, the Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dikshit, and the new Transport Minister, Mr. Ajay Maken, at a press conference here today said a massive publicity campaign involving school children had been planned to educate motorists.
Children in all Delhi schools would be urged to persuade their parents to use seat belts. ``We are confident that like the ``Say No to Crackers'' and ``Say No to Polybags'' campaign, this too would be a success,'' Ms. Dikshit said.
In another major initiative, the Government today issued a notification making it mandatory for all three-wheelers and taxis to install tamper-proof electronic meters by February 1, 2002. The order would cover over 35,000 three-wheelers and taxis, old and new, plying on the Capital's roads. The Controller of Weights and Measures would be the nodal officer to implement the order.
The Government has made it clear that from now no three-wheeler or taxi would be registered if it does not have a tamper- proof meter and a ``fitness certification'' from the Controller of Weights and Measures.
Also, wide publicity would be given to the new fare charts at important public places such as railway stations, bus terminals and taxi and auto stands.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Other States
|
