Seat belt may have saved Shobha's life
Hyderabad: Former legislator Shobha Nagi Reddy's accident once again put forth the argument that rules are meant for all. Often netas have disobeyed police directions and guidelines only to land themselves in trouble.
According to police officials, had Shobha fastened her seat belt, the injuries would not have been fatal. The former legislator sustained critical injuries after she fell from the flipping vehicle at great speed.
Shobha joins the category of leaders who died in road accidents for not wearing a seat belt. Former TDP MP Yerran Naidu died in a similar road accident in Srikakulam and so did BJP mahila president Vanam Jhansi who died in a ghastly road accident near Shadnagar.
The State police have been asking citizens to follow safety measures while driving for a decade now. These include the need to wear helmets and fasten seat belts while driving.
'While we urge the need to wear seat belts and helmets for their safety, vehicle users don't take our decision in the right spirit and wear them only to avoid fines,' observed Traffic Training Institute Inspector M Srinivas.
He said the traffic police department has spent crores of rupees on safety awareness advertisements and campaigns. However, road users are concerned about their safety only when we impose fines and penalties on them, he added.
'Safety seat belts are specially designed in such a way that the car occupant is not thrown out of the car even after having a head on collision. They hold the strongest points of the body like hips and shoulders to the seat and thereby prevent critical injuries to the neck and spine,' the inspector pointed out.
Srinivas also emphasized on the necessity to wear helmets. He said the helmets would reduce the risk of head injury by 85 per cent and brain injury by 88 per cent.
Police announced that they would start an awareness campaign within two months followed by the enforcement. Vaada foundation president P Suresh Raju, who is closely working on road safety, pointed out that traffic cops levy fine only when the car driver is not wearing a seat belt.
'This system should be changed. Cops should also enforce a law which insists on other occupants sitting in the rear to wear safety seat belts,' he said.
News Posted: 25 April, 2014
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