MUMBAI: The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will introduce seat belts for 25% of passenger seats in 2,000 Shivshahi buses in phases over the next few months. Eight such buses have been fitted with seat belts for 12 of the 45 seats in each vehicle and a mild steel body. These have already hit the roads to prevent fatalities during mishaps , officials announced on Thursday.The vulnerable front, rear and emergency exit row seats are being fitted with seat belts.A senior official from the state transport commissioner's office said there was no compulsion on private tourist bus operators or government buses to have seat belts for passengers."There is no such provision under the Central Motor Vehicles Act, and buses can ply on roads without seatbelts."However, a senior MSRTC officer told TOI that the bus corporation was concerned about mishaps where passengers sleeping in overnight buses were thrown off after the accident. "This resulted in instant deaths. Had there been a seat belt, we could have saved lives. We have therefore taken a decision to introduce these seat belts in the Shivshahi buses and we might take a call on whether to introduce these in other buses," said a senior officer.Transport experts demanded a Central amendment in motor vehicle rules to make seat belts mandatory for all private and government buses. A V Shenoy of Mumbai Vikas Samiti said that experts will petition the government for making seat belts compulsory not just in buses, but also for passengers in the rear seats of private cars and cabs."It is ridiculous that we are only concerned about the driver and the first-seat passenger. What about those in the rear? Their lives are also important," said Shenoy. Transport activist G R Vora said, "It is ridiculous that we do not have a rule for compulsory seat belts in inter-state buses, where we have plush pushback seats and more legroom for comfort, but there is less regard for passenger safety."Transport officials, who did not wish to be be named, said they agreed with the experts' view that seat belts should be made mandatory as, according to a global study, these help reduce fatalities in over 50% accident cases. The latest national statistics show that 15 persons die across the country daily for not fastening seat belts while in Maharashtra, every day, on an average, one person loses his or her life for the ommission.Car manufacturers have also been creating awareness on the importance of seat belts and vehicle dealers in Mumbai have been asked by the RTO to educate car buyers on the importance of seat belts.Urmila Pradhan, a commuter, recalled how she had hit her head on the front seat due to a sudden jerk in the bus during the night journey. "I was sleeping when I was almost thrown off the seat and woke up startled with a minor head injury."A transport department source said, "Seat belts were more effective than airbags. Seat belts are a primary restraint system and 50% more effective in preventing fatalities in crashes. Airbags are a supplementary restraint system and designed to give additional protection of seat belts in frontal crashes at a speed of over 13km per hour. Fastening the seatbelt is critical, and having one on all seats to prevent fatalities is need of the hour."

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