The Mumbai-Pune expressways toll nakas will severely enforce the seat belt requirement for all moving cars. At several toll nakas, a group of volunteers from IRB Infra (a private company) are stationed to only permit vehicles with the driver and front passenger seat occupants buckled up. Additionally, all state buses have been instructed to adhere to the guidelines at all times when operating on the state highways and expressways.

To participate in the awareness and counseling drives along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and National Highway 48, also known as the Old Pune Highway, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) held a meeting with the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), Public Works Department, traffic police, and the highway police on Wednesday.

At the toll nakas at Khalapur, Shendung, Varsoli, Somatane, and Urse, MSRDC has appointed 30 IRB volunteers each. They will check to see that everyone in a car crossing the toll Naka is using a seat belt. This also applies to passengers, as it has been discovered that they frequently make mistakes. This will be put into effect on buses that have seatbelts, and passengers will also need to be required to use them. When seatbelts are not used, accidents have a greater negative impact, according to Tardeo Officer and RTO Bharat Kalaskar. Additionally, the RTO has designated a special team for the 15 Km between Lonavla and Khalapur. Many people ultimately decide to drive in neutral on this hill in order to save fuel.

On such a stretch, shifting big cars or tour buses into neutral frequently results in accidents. In order to emphasize the effect on the drivers, we have formed a special team. We will also soon enlist the help of automakers to provide a thorough technical awareness campaign for people who are driving along this stretch, continued Kalaskar. A circular was issued holding respective depot heads accountable if any driver violates regulations such as not changing lanes on highways, driving buses on the left side, and adhering to highway speed limits as MSRTC buses travel around the state and on various highways and expressways. The drivers have been instructed to abide by these regulations on all state highways and expressways according to a circular released on Wednesday.

Once drivers have been informed of these regulations, all depots must be alerted to collect their individual signatures. If a driver is caught breaking the rules, the depot manager will also be held accountable and face harsh punishment. According to a senior officer from MSRTC, these steps are being taken to guarantee that road discipline is upheld. The MSRTC circular instructs all bus drivers to drive on the left side of the road. On roads and expressways, observe the posted lane restrictions and speed limits.

Additionally, drivers of buses equipped with seat belts should wear them while operating the vehicle, and the driver should instruct passengers to do the same. The bus drivers have also been instructed to only park in approved spots rather than in any old place along the route. Over 80% of accidents, according to the RTO, are the result of driver negligence, reckless behavior, and violation of traffic laws. For a six-month drive starting on December 1, the RTO will hang posters showing incidents that have occurred in black spots and accident-prone locations on highways to warn individuals driving to maintain speed.