AI Cameras Target Passengers Not Wearing Seatbelts: Charge Double Fine
In India, it is mandatory for all front-facing occupants in a car or SUV to wear seat belts while the vehicle is in motion. Various government initiatives ensure that the front occupants- both the driver and co-driver, wear seat belts. Today, AI cameras and various other equipment are used for traffic enforcement. The rear occupants are often overlooked when it comes to seat belt rules. A new rule in Mangaluru tries to address the same and bring about stricter enforcement. According to it, even one passenger failing to wear seatbelt in a vehicle will lead to the vehicle owner facing double the fine.
It has made it the duty of the driver to ensure that all occupants are belted up during commutes. The traffic police in the city has already announced the tightened enforcement officially. It falls under the smart city initiative. AI cameras will be used to monitor traffic and pick out violations.
The country was left in shock when the former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry and his friend Jehangir Pandole died in a car crash on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad highway in 2022. Both of them were seated at the rear, and were not belted up at the time of the accident. The front seat occupants were wearing their belts and survived the crash. This shed more light on how unsafe it is for the rear occupants to not use seat belts.
Following the crash, the Karnataka government made belts compulsory for both the front and rear occupants. The South Indian state now imposes a fine of Rs 1,000 for first time offenders and Rs 2000 for subsequent violations. This structure is in accordance with the latest Central Government directives.
It has become common for the government to test its latest automated traffic law enforcement in Mangalore. The city has a lot of AI-integrated cameras installed at various places, as part of the Integrated Command Control Centre (ICCC) under the Smart City project. These will be used to capture high-resolution images of violations. They will capture if the occupants of a car fail to wear seat belts.
Once a violation is captured, e-challans will be issued to the vehicle owners. These will include photographic evidence, time and location of the violation. “Wearing seat belts is compulsory for those sitting next to the driver. AI cameras are identifying offenders, and fines are being imposed. People must follow the rules for their own safety,” said K Ravishankar, DCP (Crime and Traffic).
Mangalore has recently been posting a rise in traffic violations. Reports state that approximately 1,000 e-challans are issued daily in the city. Out of these, around 300 are for seat belt-related offences. It should also be said that the number of drivers complying with seatbelt rules has also been on a climb. There is, however, still room for improvement.
In 2015, when seat belts were mandated for the first time, the count of complying drivers was relatively low. The growth since then has been impressive. The toughened enforcement will help in bringing this count further up.
Some residents have already voiced their support for the new rule. Some even criticised it for being enforcement-heavy without adequate public awareness. The government seems to be confident to go ahead with the new rule.
Why Are Seat Belts Important For Rear Occupants?
Not wearing seat belts can be as risky for the rear occupants as they are for those at the front. Especially in head-on collisions, unbelted rear passengers can jolt forward violently, leading to larger risks and consequences. People should understand why seat belts are important for ensuring safety and then start belting up, rather than doing it for the law’s sake.