Hindustan Zinc, world’s leading Zinc-Lead and Silver producer and Vedanta Group company, has joined hands with ‘Rajasthan Parivahan Nirikshak Sangh’ (RPNS) – a body affiliated to All India Federation of Motor Vehicles Department Technical Executive Officers Association, Bangalore, to spread the message through technology driven Road Safety Mobile Van.

This unique project has been sponsored by the company under the Rajasthan Road Safety Awareness Mission Program. The project has so far touched 100,000 people through conducting about 600 educational programs, which have resulted in decreasing the road accidents and injuries.

In district Rajsamand a success story has been drawn by witnessing 40% reduction in road accidents. Inspired by the success of the program and its response, the Transport Department is now planning to launch similar road safety mobile vans in all seven divisions.

The success of this model on safety is now being replicated by other States. The Transport Department of Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka are working towards developing ten such road safety mobile vans in their states to promote road safety education and awareness in public.

“The high frequency of road accidents in India only proves ignorance and disrespect towards safety. More people die in road accidents in India than anywhere else in the world and therefore we have undertaken this initiative to spread awareness among the common” said Pavan Kaushik, head of corporate communications at HZL.

This Road Safety Mobile Van is equipped with the facility like LCD Projector with a projection screen of 42” (LCD TV), a high-decibel sound system with amplifier to reach large audience, laptop, digital camera etc. This Road Safety Mobile Van also has a digital inverter for power backup and is proving to be useful in villages where there are power-cuts.

The method of teaching involves audio-video training sessions of 90 minutes, guidelines and educating traffic rules, behavioral training on road safety, first aid etc. The program is more of interactive nature and involves the audience through question and answer sessions.

Road-safety guidelines are also distributed to audience. Special drives are also being launched in association with local police towards implementation of road safety rules.

Veerendra Singh Rathore, President of the Rajasthan Parivahan Nirikshak Sangh who is also the head of the mission said “Through the van we have been able to reach remote villages, schools and rural people.  As the Van has video screen, we are able to show short films on road safety which is helping in making the people understand the gravity of situation.”

Contributed by: Geetha Sunil Pillai