Unsafe at any speed: Safety rules need to be tightened

The car industry's resistance to safety features in all cars irrespective of size is indefensible

The tragic death of former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry and family friend Jehangir Pandole in a car accident on Sunday has turned the spotlight yet again on lax safety rules for car passengers in India. Mistry and Pandole were travelling in the back seat of a Mercedes sports utility vehicle and were reportedly not wearing seat belts. Had they worn the seat belts, they would have been saved, as were the driver and the co-passenger in the front seat. The irony is that rear seat belts have been mandatory under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules but the rule is