HYDERABAD: Strap your seat belts while travelling in cars or be prepared to pay a fine of Rs. 100.

The city traffic police will strictly implement the seat belt rule from Sunday while continuing the ongoing campaign for enforcement of helmet rule, Additional Commissioner A.K. Khan said on Friday.

The seat belt rule is not new. Wearing seat belts for persons sitting in the front seats of a car is mandatory under rule 138 sub-section (3) of the Central Motor Vehicle rules of 1989. "We are focusing on its implementation like the helmet rule," Mr. Khan explained.

Initially, focus will be laid on the cars having seat belts. The fine amount will be Rs. 100 per head.

Mobile phone users

Meanwhile, the police have decided to step up the drive against persons speaking over mobile phones while driving vehicles. In January alone, 31,000 cases were booked for this violation.

Stating that percentage of helmet rule compliance varied in different parts — 70 per cent in Secunderabad and 40 per cent in the old city — Mr. Khan said that helmet rule would also be implemented seriously. As against 98 deaths due to head injuries out of the 134 fatal accidents involving two-wheeler riders in 2004, 61 succumbed to their head injuries out of the 117 fatal accidents involving two-wheeler riders in 2005.

"This indicates helmet wearing helps in reducing accidents," he observed.

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