Cricket Tournament to Raise Awareness of Road Safety
September 9, 2022
The second edition of the Road Safety World Series (RSWS) starts tomorrow in India. Featuring retired and current cricket legends, the 22-day tournament is played to create awareness towards road safety in the country and around the world.
Series brand ambassador and Indian Legends captain Sachin Tendulkar believes that the tournament has been and continues to be a unifying force in spreading the message. “The message we are trying to give everyone is when you are riding a scooter/bike/two-wheeler wear a helmet. If there is a person traveling with you, make sure that he or she also wears a helmet. If you are driving a car, wear a seat belt, don’t jump signals and don’t drive on the wrong side of the road.”
According to the World Bank, road accident deaths in India are among the highest in the world. With only 1% of the world’s vehicles, India accounts for almost 10% of all car accident-related deaths. In 2020, fatalities involving road users between 18 and 45 years were nearly 70%. A study conducted by the World Bank and SaveLIFE Foundation found that the incidence of fatality post-road accident is higher among victims from low-income households than from high-income households in India.
In the country, pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists – who mostly come from rural and deprived areas – have the least safety protection in the event of a traffic accident. Over 40% of rural households report one death after a road accident compared to 12% in urban households. Therefore, this group accounts for more than half the total road accident deaths. Moreover, those who are involved in road accidents often lack adequate access to medical attention, insurance coverage and safety gear.
“Road crashes can have a devastating and disproportionate impact on the poor, thrusting a family into poverty,” said Hartwig Schafer, Vice President, South Asia Region, World Bank. Additionally, he mentions the commitment the World Bank has to support the Indian government in creating safety nets for poor households to ease their financial burden and help them cope with the sudden emergency linked to road crashes.
Countries participating in RSWS include India, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh and England. “I am sure the Road Safety World Series will drive social change and work as an ideal platform to influence people’s mindset towards their behavior on the road and road safety,” said Sports Minister, Anurag Thakur.
The tournament opener will be held in Kanpur while Raipur will host the semi-finals and final, which will be held on October 1. The RSWS is supported by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Ministry of Information and Technology and Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India.