Critical role of seatbelts: Telangana MLA Lasya Nandita's fatal crash reveals safety issues

Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLA Lasya Nandita (37), a first-time legislator, lost her life on Friday in a road accident in Hyderabad. The incident occurred just ten days after she survived another accident.

Lasya Nandita’s vehicle lost control and collided with the road divider causing serious injuries. Although was she rushed to the hospital she succumbed to her injuries. The car driver is reported to be critically injured.

The preliminary post mortem report said that the bones in her body were completely damaged one leg was broken. She had severe head injury. "Lasya was sitting behind and she did not wear seatbelt at the time of accident. But we are also investigating further on the cause of accident," said the police sources.

Experts emphasise the significance of seatbelt usage, particularly in the rear seats, where compliance is alarmingly low in India.

Speaking about the laws in road safety, Siddharth Vinayak Patankar, editor-in-chief of Car&Bike, said: “By law in India, cars need to have an alarm system for not wearing a seatbelt in front seats. But no such system is in place for backseat occupants.” Patankar stressed the need for an alarm system for rear seatbelts to boost compliance.

Low compliance, awareness

RC Bhargav, chairman of Maruti Suzuki India, lamented the dismal seatbelt usage, stating, “In India, not even 5 per cent of people wear seatbelts in the backseat.” He attributed this to discomfort and stressed the need for awareness of seatbelt usage.

According to a 2017 World Health Organisation (WHO) study, seatbelt-wearing rates in India remain low, with 3.5-11 per cent compliance for front-seat passengers and 14-40 per cent for drivers. Bhargav advocated for public education campaigns to address the lack of awareness.

Airbags are not enough

Patankar dispelled the misconception that airbags alone can guarantee safety: “Airbags won’t help if you are not wearing a seatbelt.” He underscored the synergy between seatbelts and airbags as a crucial buffer in high-speed collisions.

He also explained that some cars have sensors preventing airbag deployment if the seatbelt is not worn. However, this only applies to front airbags, leaving other airbags ineffective in case of non-compliance.

Need for three-point seatbelts

Patankar emphasised the importance of three-point seatbelts for rear-seat passengers, particularly the one in the middle. He notes that not many cars in India are designed to accommodate this safety feature. The lack of such seatbelt configurations raises concerns for the safety of rear-seat occupants.

Highlighting the global context, the WHO recommends seatbelt usage in rear seats to reduce fatality risks. India’s motor vehicle rules mandate seatbelt usage, with non-compliance subject to a fine of Rs 1,000. Comparing global statistics, the low compliance rates in India underscore the need for stricter enforcement and increased awareness.