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Talking of an axle against accidents

Road safety education as a concept is almost unheard of in India. Most of us are guilty of procuring our driving licences through driving schools without actually going through a test, thus putting India low on the road safety map. Worth sparing a thought about it since statistics place road accidents the world over as the third largest cause for death and disability prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to classify it as a non-communicable disease.

India alone accounts for 90,000 deaths every year due to road accidents, double the number of deaths in the United States and triple the figure for most European countries. Considering these countries have more cars per thousand people, this statistic does not augur well for India. Points out Sanjay Varma of Hubert Ebner (India) Private Limited, who trains people in safe and defensive driving in New Delhi, "The main reason for such high risk on the roads is lack of road safety education. What we need is awareness and a change in attitude. If everybody bothers about their own safety, then we automatically end up with safer roads and less accidents. It is the small things that make a difference."

And it is to this end that Shell India has just started its "Ek Asha Road Suraksha" Leadership Circle campaign in the city. Shailaja Sharma, Manager of the Corporate Social Responsibility cell of the company says the main aim of the programme is to create "influencers" or "leaders" who would then further spread the message of road safety among their peer group and neighbours etc. A workshop conducted by the company recently at the India Habitat Centre concentrated on educating and spreading awareness amongst non-government organisation workers about road safety. Speakers at the workshop included Verma, who demonstrated defensive driving techniques as well as simple ways to keep safe, Ajay Mehta, Executive Director of National Foundation of India, Matthew Verghese, Director, St. Stephens' Hospital and Chamaiparn Santikara, Regional Adviser for disability, injury prevention and rehabilitation for the WHO.

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