Hyderabad: Passengers in cars who neglect to wear seat belts face even greater risks than drivers, with four sustaining injuries everyday and one death in every two days in Telangana, according to the latest report on road accidents by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.The data shows that nearly 1,000 drivers involved in accidents in 2023 were affected for not wearing seat belts, but the situation was severe for passengers. More than 1,500 passengers were affected, including 276 who died in road accidents in the state.Experts emphasise that seat belts are equally critical for passengers and drivers. Many passengers, particularly those in the rear, assume they are safer because they are away from the steering wheel. This leads to lower seat belt usage, which increases vulnerability during sudden impacts. Passengers, especially those in the rear, often lack airbags or advanced restraint systems, so seat belts are their only effective protection. In a head-on collision, front passengers who are not wearing seat belts are thrown against the windshield or dashboard. Experts also pointed out that, in a crash, an unbelted passenger continues to move at the car’s speed until they hit an object such as a seat, dashboard or windshield, or another passenger. This can cause severe injury and endanger belted occupants, as an unrestrained passenger can collide with them like a projectile.“Seat belt regulations are not strictly enforced, and many drivers and passengers only wear them out of fear of police checks rather than for genuine safety reasons. Vehicle owners also share part of the blame, as some modify their cars by installing separate buckles to silence the warning buzzer instead of using seatbelts properly,” said Dheerendra Samineni, road safety expert, chief trainer and founder of Safe Drive India.He added that statistics reveal that nearly 80% of injuries resulting from accidents occur due to not wearing seat belts, which highlights their crucial role in safety, even more so than airbags. “Additionally, seat belts are directly linked to airbag functionality — without wearing them, airbags cannot perform effectively,” said Samineni.
