Don’t forget to wear seatbelt, follow safety tips, say experts after MLA Lasya Nanditha’s fatal car crash

HYDERABAD: A total of 21,145 challans were issued in 2023 for passengers not wearing seatbelts, as per Lokendra Singh, a road safety activist from Hyderabad, based on an RTI reply.

BRS MLA Lasya Nandita tragically lost her life in a road accident on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) on Friday. Lasya sustained severe head injuries and internal bleeding when she was thrown forward and hit the back of the front seat, as she wasn't wearing a seatbelt, according to an initial postmortem report.

Experts in road safety emphasise that Lasya could have survived the accident if she had been wearing a seatbelt. Upon examining the accident photos, it seemed evident that the airbag had deployed. However, due to her lack of seatbelt usage, she may have been jostled around within the vehicle.

Also Read: Secunderabad Cantonment BRS MLA G Lasya Nanditha dies in road accident on ORR

This is not the first time when a VIP lost life in a road accident mainly due to not wearing seatbelts. The fatal crash involving former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry in Maharashtra's Palghar district on September 5, 2022, serves as a poignant reminder. Despite traveling in a Mercedes car, Mistry's failure to wear a seatbelt proved fatal.

Naresh Raghavan, a road safety author and expert based in Hyderabad said, "Primer facie. It looks like the airbags deployed, so if she were wearing a seatbelt, there is a very high probability she would have survived. Airbags are designed to protect you in a certain zone. If you're not wearing a seatbelt, in an accident you get thrown about, and you are no longer in that safe zone."

He added, "One thing we have to understand is that a helmet and seatbelt protect your life after an accident. These two things do not improve traffic conditions or road safety. They are just life-saving gadgets post-accident. Too much emphasis is being placed on these two gadgets instead of finding ways to prevent the accident from happening in the first place. Remember, prevention is always better than cure."

S Adishankar, road safety expert from Hyderabad said, "The accident was very unfortunate. From the videos and visuals, it appears that seat belts would have saved. I hope these politicians, actors, sportspersons, and CEOs realize that they are not privileged. Physics does not discriminate and applies equally for everyone. There is no shortcut or escape from wearing seat belts."

"Today people find all different methods to silence the seat belt alarm. Another issue is the skills of the driver. Where he learnt and how he obtained his license. Driving on highways requires a special set of skills which very few drivers in India have today. I wish there was a proper investigation and the results would come out in the public domain for learning, " he added.

Road safety experts share some main reasons for road accidents and deaths

• Not using mirror and indicator
• Not keeping safe following the gap in traffic
• Not keeping sight distance in view, while overtaking or negotiating turnings
• Not understanding the right of way rules when joining a main road
• Not wearing seat belts
• Over-speeding
• Lack of proper training expertise in driving on highways.
• Lack of enforcement mainly on highways.
• Most drivers are not trained. Especially Uber, Ola. They are on their mobiles while driving.
• Late night driving- Drivers need good sleep. Late night, early morning, continuous driving all can contribute to drowsiness.
• Many people buy costly vehicles, five star rated ones, but don't follow the simple act of wearing seat belts.
• Many times, we see a front seat passenger holding a child in their lap. This should never be done and can be very dangerous. In the process they don't wear seat belts too.

Important tips to follow to reduce accidents

• Avoid driving between 10 p.m and 6 a.m. since your biological clock is asking for sleep.
• Wear seatbelts mandatorily even while sitting in rear seats.
• People need to change their mindset of 'Nothing will happen to me'. So it is the mindset that needs to be addressed.
• Proper enforcement- At least on highways, expressways like ORR, there can be a check point where it is checked that everyone is wearing seat belts
• A vehicle's seating capacity is known by the number of seat belts provided. So, if there is a check point in highways for seat belts, over loading of people is automatically taken care of.
• In countries like Australia, New Zealand it is the drivers responsibility to ensure that everyone wears seat belts.
• Most lives lost on ORR can be saved if seat belts are enforced at every entry point (the toll entry point). Else they are penalised and the insurance claim does not come through in case of no seat belts.