Seat belts, a must, say police

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The City Traffic Police issued a last minute warning yesterday to all motorists to wear seat belts for their personal safety.

According to the Motor Traffic Act, wearing seat belts from yesterday (October 1) is compulsory for drivers and other passengers in the front seat of cars and dual purpose vehicles that bear English letters with numbers.

Traffic Police SP Chula de Silva told the Sunday Observer that although the law is applicable only for drivers and passengers in the front seats of these two types of vehicles, others who have seat belts in their vehicles should follow suit.

He said the law pertaining to wearing seat belts will also be made compulsory in almost all vehicles such as buses and lorries that are registered after October 1.

The law will not apply to tri-shaws, vans with three wheels, hearses, special duty vehicles, hand tractors and other tractors that are used for agricultural and garbage transport. People who are less than five feet in height and those who hold medical certificates that they should refrain from using seat belts on medical grounds are also exempted from the law.

SP de Silva, however, warned people driving all kinds of vehicles whether they bear English letters with numbers or any other vehicles to be cautious when driving at high speed, overtaking other vehicles at road bends and driving after consuming liquor .

It was reported that a driver was killed on the spot at Pasyala even while wearing a seat belt.