Police have started legal action against nearly 3,000 motorists and passengers for not wearing seatbelts on expressways, Deputy Inspector General of Police W.P.J. Senadheera said.
Senadheera, who heads the Police Traffic Management and Road Safety Division, said the seatbelt law is now being strictly enforced to protect motorists and passengers.
Vehicles may travel at up to 100 km/h on expressways, which raises the risk of serious injury to unrestrained passengers during sudden braking or a crash, he said.
He cited an 11-vehicle collision on the Southern Expressway, which took place the day after the law was enforced. Passengers suffered only minor injuries and no deaths were reported, he said.
Senadheera said legal action is also intended to raise public awareness, and urged people to wear seatbelts for their own safety and not only to avoid police action.
