These were among new measures announced in October to improve the safety of workers who are ferried on lorries.

While staying dry is pleasant, migrant workers need more protection than rain covers. A case can be made that installation of seatbelts in commercial lorries is still needed to make transport safer.

HISTORY OF SEATBELTS

Hesitancy towards installing seatbelts is not new.

Since 1973, all drivers and front seat passengers have been required to wear seatbelts. Seatbelts for passengers at the back were added in 1993. Years after these were made mandatory, some drivers and passengers still flouted the rules.

When the original law requiring seatbelts was proposed, drivers objected because they said they were uncomfortable, and never expected to be in accidents.

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