Most cities in India now have a compulsory rule to wear seat belts if you are sitting in the front seats of any four wheeler. Many cities also have strict rules for two-wheeler riders to wear helmets. Failure to comply with the two rules above leads to heavy fines! Heavy – mark this word.

Most cities experience a sort of rebel against the traffic authorities when safety rules like those for the seat belt and the helmet are introduced. People are reluctant to wear them. It is like smoking cigarettes. People are reluctant to follow what is in their best interest. As much as the fact that smoking cigarettes is injurious to health is true, not wearing helmets is a big risk too! Everyday newspapers in cities such as Pune, carry news of people getting badly injured or losing life because of head injuries sustained during accidents. I am not very sure how well seat belts actually protect someone driving a car, not especially in India.

In my honest opinion, compulsory rules of wearing seat belts or helmets must be scrapped. Also, all the road-side Pollution Under Control (PUC) centres in India must shut shops.

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