S. Vishnu Sharma
IIT Madras CoERS is partnering with Ford to address the growing concern of road accidents involving young drivers. The initiative aims to train the young minds of the next generation of drivers.
The initiative aiming to equip thousands of students from 240 schools in Tamil Nadu with essential road safety knowledge and skills through master trainers.
Report
As per a Report on ‘Road Accidents in India 2022’ by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), as many as 42,878 out of total 1,68,491 fatal road accident victims in the year 2022 were under 25 years.
Safety Practices
Inculcating road safety practices in childhood is vital as it helps embed these habits into long-term memory, making them a natural part of their lifestyle. By teaching road safety early, the society can ensure that safe behaviors become second nature, helping to save lives on roads.
Training
Towards this objective, this program by IIT Madras and Ford focuses on practical training, emphasizing responsible driving on the roads. The CoERS, IIT Madras, and Ford signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 30 August 2024 towards this collaboration.
Further Training
These trained individuals will impart further training programs in their respective schools and traffic jurisdictions creating multiplier effects driving practices, traffic rules, and hazard awareness, say sources from IIT Madras.
By investing in the education of young drivers, CoERS and Ford aim to reduce accidents and create a safer future for all road users, say sources from IIT Madras.
Inaugural
An Inaugural session of the training program along with MoU signing ceremony was organized at IIT Madras campus on 30th August 2024. This collaboration will provide valuable resources and expertise to the program, further enhancing its impact.
Director of IIT Madras
Prof. V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, IIT Madras is committed to driving social change through various initiatives. Engaging the younger generation in these efforts is crucial for fostering a culture of safety on the roads.
We have previously worked on improving driver behavior, and through this initiative, we aim to sensitize the younger generation—the drivers of tomorrow—towards safer driving practices, said IIT Madras director.
Capacity Building Training
As a part of this, the capacity-building training sessions will be conducted for teachers, traffic wardens, and traffic police personnel on road safety from human behaviour perspectives.
Need For Collaboration
Prof. Venkatesh Balasubramanian, Head, CoERS, IIT Madras, and RBG Labs, Department of Engineering Design, IIT Madras emphasized the need for such collaborations.
Early exposure to road safety procedures is essential for preparing young brains and fostering behavioral changes that will enable them to drive safely, he said.
This initiative with Ford will facilitate equip the young minds who are the future drivers with the essential skills and behavioral change required for them to be a responsible road user, he said.
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Empowering Educators
Mr. Sreenivasan Janakiraman, CSR Head, Ford, said their focus is on empowering educators to foster a culture of road safety, ensuring that the students and the young riders are equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate the roads safely.
This collaboration with CoERS, IITM to inculcate Activity Based Learning Pedagogy helps nurture the next generation of safe drivers, he said.
About Centre Of Excellence In Road Safety (COERS)
The Centre of Excellence in Road Safety (CoERS) at IIT Madras is funded by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Government of India, to perform evidence-based integrated approach to Road Safety.
CoERS works on various aspects of human factors engineering, road engineering and vehicle engineering to bring about significant improvements in road safety globally.
This CoERS also advises various stakeholders and Governments to bring about a data-driven systems approach to road safety.