City drivers urged to ‘belt up’

SHILLONG: Drivers in Shillong might as well decide to put on that neglected seat belt for rule’s sake if not for their safety as a new directive from Commissioner of Transport, PW Ingty has asked the District Transport Officer (Enforcement) to conduct surprise checks to ensure that people are donning the seat belts.
Making wearing seat belts mandatory, Ingty has directed the DTO (Enforcement) to conduct surprise checks within East Khasi Hills as per the provisions of the Central Motor Vehicle Act 1988.
The DTO (Enforcement) has also been directed to conduct checks to ensure that no one is using mobile phone or is smoking while driving. Overloading by commercial vehicles and mandatory use of helmets will also be supervised by the DTO.
Safety norms make it compulsory for drivers and front-seat passengers to wear seat belts. However, Shillongites are not accustomed to this regulation which has not been imposed till date.
It may be mentioned that in neighboring Guwahati, the Traffic Police has made wearing of seat belts compulsory.
Reckless driving on congested roads, disobedience of traffic rules, non-adherence to safety norms among others have contributed to the growing number of road accidents in Shillong and across the State and official sources informed that the DTO (Enforcement) would go all out to ensure vehicles adhere to the norms laid down.