The Vision Zero Fatality Project is an initiative by Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited in association with Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and SaveLIFE Foundation to significantly reduce and ultimately eliminate the incidence of road traffic crashes and fatalities on the Mumbai-Pune Corridor on the NH48 by the year 2023. The project also seeks to increase the awareness amongst civilians on providing emergency services and support, and will capture data and metrics for long-term decision making around road safety.
Some of the significant steps taken under the project were:
- Regular Crash Vulnerability Audit of the project road to assess engineering errors
- Forensic investigation of road crashes on the project road
- Creation and dissemination of GIS map of the 111 km stretch focusing on road safety
- Instituting dedicated safety patrolling for the highway
- Conducted Tactical Urbanism (TU) on the Black spots on Outer Ring Road at Bhalswa Chowk in Delhi
- Initiated India’s first TU trial on a National Highway at Karla and Kanhe Phata, NH 48
- Training of Police officers and Community volunteers in Basic Trauma Life Skills
- Training of public transport drivers in Anticipatory Driving and Accident Prevention Training
Since its launch in 2018, the project has accomplished the following on the Mumbai-Pune Corridor:
- 61% reduction in fatal road crash death in the year 2021 (baseline 2018)
- Building a coalition between the various governmental agencies to ensure the sustainability of the project, Maharashtra State Road Development Cooperation, Maharashtra Highway Police, and Maharashtra Health Department
- SLF’s advocacy has led to the rectification of 2519 errors between 2020 and 2021
- Additional two patrol cars deployed and electronic enforcement via Police interceptors introduced
- Visible Police presence on the Project stretch ensured through the installation of the first dedicated Traffic Aid Post. Work on the post is in progress
- Improved retro-reflectivity on gaps-in-median along the highway
- Unauthorized and hazardous gaps in median closed
- Regular crash investigation started to find the causal factor
- Crash Notification system launched
- Chevron markers, large boards installed informing commuters of Emergency care services were put up on the Old Highway
- Retro reflective stickers installed on trees to improve night visibility
- Outreach to local youth to spread safe-driving awareness
- Submitted designs for highway improvement such as
Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited has embarked on transforming two high fatality intersections in Pune into safe intersections, accessible for all. The project will be using Tactical Urbanism to address the problems on the two selected intersections. The projected impact of the interventions are:
- Reduce conflict between vulnerable road users (VRUs) such as cyclists, pedestrians, etc., and other motorised transport thereby preventing crashes
- Reduce VRU exposure time while negotiating the intersection
- Reduce crash related fatalities and serious injuries to zero during the period of intervention
- Make recommendations to the State Government to implement TU project learnings to eliminate crash fatalities on the intersection permanently
- Organise public engagement activities to develop public support for the project and promote responsible road usage
As per a report approximately 50% of road crash victims lose their lives due to a lack of timely medical intervention within the Golden Hour. In most cases victims of road crashes either bleed or choke to death. First responders in most cases are Police officials who are not trained to intervene and provide basic trauma and life support.
With a view to addressing this critical need, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited, in association with SaveLife Foundation, offered training on Basic Trauma Life Support to approximately 1027 police personnel in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly known as Aurangabad), Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, and Thane.
