With legislation for the compulsory use of seatbelts now in force some vehicle owners have had to park their older-model cars since they cannot find seatbelts for them.
A check by Stabroek News at some of the auto dealers in the city confirmed this. At least three recognised dealers did not stock seatbelts. Some said they could import them but they would cost a lot. One man who owns a Toyota RT100 said his car has been parked since January 1 because he cannot find seatbelts for it. He told this newspaper yesterday that he and several other persons had checked with dealers around Georgetown and on the East Coast and East Bank to no avail.
According to the man, one prominent auto dealer had said he would have the belts available in a large quantity and this would cost him $100,000, while another dealer is charging $20,000 for a pair.
The man said under normal circumstances it would cost $3,000 for a pair but since there is now a mad rush many of the dealers have been raising the price.
Contacted yesterday a senior officer at the Police Traffic department said that while it is true that some vehicle owners have not been able to purchase seat belts it is still illegal for them to drive without them. The officer said the correct thing to do is to park the vehicle in that case. The man had raised the issue as to whether drivers would be permitted to use their vehicles without the seatbelts if they were on their way to purchase them. The officer suggested that the driver would have to explain his situation to any police officer he may encounter.
Reports are that some vehicle owners who do not have seatbelts have been driving at night to avoid the police.
The seatbelt law came into effect on New Year’s Day and is geared to reduce the many road deaths the country experiences every year.