Rs 1,000 fine for not wearing seat belts

BENGALURU: The next you take your car out and forget to strap on your seat belt, be ready to cough up a stiff penalty.

The state police have issued an order stipulating imposition of a fine of Rs 1,000 under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act to ensure compulsory use of seat belts in cars.

The order, which came into effect from Wednesday, was issued on the instructions of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The new fine was imposed after an increasing number of accidents were registered due to driving without a seat belt.

The rule applies to SUVs, MUVs, hatchbacks and sedans, which are classified as M1. Earlier, Rs 500 was fixed as fine for not wearing seat belts.