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Egypt's unruly motorists told to belt up
By Khaled Diab
CAIRO,
January 2, 2001 (Reuters) – Egyptian traffic police are applying seatbelt
regulations with unusual New Year's resolve in a bid to reduce one of the world's
highest road fatality rates.
Regulations obliging motorists to wear seatbelts were part of a law passed last March, but since many cars lacked seatbelts, once regarded by the Customs Authority as a taxable optional extra, owners were given nine months to install them.
According to the state-owned Al-Gomhuria newspaper, seatbelt prices have soared
to 200 Egyptian pounds (about 34 pounds) from 20 Egyptian pounds as traders
cashed in on panic buying before the regulations took effect.
"The campaign is going very well. We have a 90 percent success rate,"
said a police officer in downtown Cairo. "It's been successful because
people are afraid of being fined."
Drivers caught without their seatbelts fastened face fines of 50 to 100 Egyptian
pounds. An unbuckled passenger in the front seat of a taxi must pay a spot fine
of 20 Egyptian pounds.
"Why should we have to wear seatbelts in the city where the traffic is too
slow?" asked Ibrahim, a Cairo taxi driver. "At least taxi drivers
shouldn't have to wear them."
But a motorist who gave his name as Hussein disagreed. "I think it's
great. I didn't wear my seatbelt regularly before, but these fines make you
more careful," he said.
The Cairo traffic department reported 3,265 seatbelt violations on New Year's
Day, when the regulations took effect, the official Middle East News Agency
reported.
Other provisions such as tougher penalties for speeding and double-parking,
were enforced when the law was passed in March.
ã Reuters
Limited 2001.
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