In partnership with the SaveLIFE Foundation, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL) has declared the successful conclusion of its two-year “Surakshit Sadkein, Surakshit Bharat” Zero Fatality Corridor (ZFC) programme on the Uttar Pradesh National Highway 19 segment between Agra, Etawah, and Chakeri. The effort, which was started in November 2022, focused on a section of the nation’s high-risk route with the goal of lowering the number of fatal traffic accidents by implementing the “4Es” of road safety: engineering, emergency care, enforcement, and education. Over 7.2 lakh commuters have been impacted by the programme, which has reduced road crash fatalities by 7.5% when compared to the baseline year.

The State Road Safety Committee, the Transport Department, the Uttar Pradesh Police, the National Highways Authority of India, and municipal governments were all closely involved in the project. Upgrades to engineering safety, electronic enforcement, better signage, and fortified trauma care systems were among the crucial actions. More than 7,000 engineering hazards have been fixed, crash barriers and speed calming measures have been installed, pedestrian facilities have been improved, more than 300 first responders have received Basic Trauma Life Support training, and 150 commercial vehicle drivers have received anticipatory driving training. Billboards, dhaba branding, and the distribution of bilingual leaflets with road safety instructions were all used in the awareness initiatives. “For us, advancement in the automotive industry is as much about creating safer communities as it is about innovation,” stated Piyush Arora, Managing Director & CEO, SAVWIPL.

Our Made-in-India models have received full 5-star safety ratings, demonstrating the Group’s commitment to ensuring that our shared roadways are as safe as our vehicles. Together, engineering, law enforcement, training, and awareness may save lives, as demonstrated by the NH 19 Zero Fatality Corridor with the SaveLIFE Foundation. This quantifiable influence reinforces our vision of an independent India where freedom also entails the ability to travel without fear. After the Mumbai–Pune Highway effort, which saw a 61% decrease in deaths, this is the second Vision Zero Fatality Corridor project funded by SAVWIPL. Since government systems now incorporate tried-and-true solutions, the NH-19 concept is anticipated to act as a model for comparable road safety initiatives across the country.