Mandatory 'seat belt reminder' on rear seat in cars: New rule to come into force from April 1, 2025 Seat belt will protect against injury in accidents

Auto manufacturers have to provide a 'seat belt reminder' feature in the rear seats of all cars. Because, from April 1, 2025, it has been made mandatory to install 'Rear Seat Belt Alarm' in all cars sold in the country. The government has issued notification to the companies regarding this rule regarding road safety. Earlier, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (NHAI) released the draft in March this year and sought opinions from the general public on the new rule. Seats will be mandatory in buses from April 1, 2026 According to a CNBC-AWAAZ report, the rule will apply to all passenger cars manufactured after April 1, 2025. For this Central Motor Vehicle Rules will be changed. Under this seat belt, restraint system and seat belt reminder have to be used. At the same time, from April 1, 2026, the rule to assemble safety seat belts will also be enforced in buses and other heavy vehicles. Seat belt protects passengers from injury in an accident Seat belt alarm is an essential feature. This safety feature alerts the passenger sitting in the car to wear the seat belt with a beeping sound and the sound does not stop until the passenger does not wear the seat belt. This protects the passenger from injury during an accident. A fine of Rs 1000 on violators Currently, in-built seat belt reminders are mandatory for the driver and front seat passenger. Under Rule 138 (3) of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR), rear seat passengers not wearing seat belts are fined ₹1,000. Most people are either unaware of this rule or ignore it. Traffic policemen also rarely fine passengers for not wearing seat belts. Before the government swung into action after Cyrus Mistry's death, the ministry had issued a draft notification to make three safety features mandatory in cars following the death of former Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry in a road accident. The car was proposed to offer company fitted seat belts, seat belt alarm and 6 airbags. However, the proposal for 6 airbags did not materialize and eventually the entire notification was scrapped. Apart from the mechanic, his friend Jahangir Pandole (49) died in the car accident. Cyrus and Jahangir were sitting in the back seat of the car and both were not wearing seat belts. The woman doctor Anaita Pandole and her husband Darius Pandole who were driving the car were seriously injured in the accident.

Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).