Cops go easy on Day 1 of seat belt rule, focus on highways

CHENNAI: On Day 1 of the seat beat rule being implemented in the city, traffic police took it easy. Teams to catch erring drivers stayed on the outskirts of the city to ensure that those driving on the highways followedthe rule.
East Coast Road, Poonamallee High Road and GST Road were some of the roads police focused on. “Inside the city, we just stopped motorists and warned them,” said a senior policeofficer.
At the end of the day, they had booked 331 cases and collected 33,100 in fines. This is lessthan one-tenthof the number of cases they booked on Day 1 of enforcing the tinted glass rule. “That was a Supreme Court order. So we had tobestrictto avoidcontemptof court. This is our own initiative. Though it was a slow beginning, we will be consistent,” saidtheofficer.
A line of cars in Maduravoyal grabbed attention on Monday evening as 10 traffic policemen were busy pulling over motorists and booking them for notwearing seatbelts. The police had announced the drivelast month.
“We are still spreading awareness about wearing seat belts while driving,” said R Panneerselvam, inspector, Maduravoyal traffic enforcementwing.Around 66 challans were issued to motorists while patrolling thehighway.
S Panneerselvam, deputy commissioner of police, traffic, Chennai west, said, “In the city, people do not drive at high speeds. We are focusing on highways first to prevent accidents, but it is a rule in the city aswelltofasten seatbelts.”
A fine of 100 will be levied thefirsttime, and 300from the second offence. “We will ensure that people do not break the rule,” he said. Many vehicles they stopped on Monday did not have seat belts and the driversweretoldtofix them.
“It is not a problem. It is for our own safety,” said M Shanmugam, 77, who was booked for driving without wearing hisseatbelt.