Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL), in collaboration with the SaveLIFE Foundation, has completed a two-year road safety project on the Agra–Etawah–Chakeri stretch of National Highway 19 (NH-19) in Uttar Pradesh. The initiative, timed to coincide with India’s 79th Independence Day, aimed to improve road safety for commuters through a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach.
The project, launched in November 2022, was based on SaveLIFE Foundation’s Zero Fatality Corridor (ZFC) model, which integrates four key pillars: Engineering, Emergency Care, Enforcement, and Education (the 4Es). It focused on one of the country’s high-risk highway sections, with the objective of reducing road crash fatalities.
According to data shared by the partners, road crash fatalities on this stretch have decreased by 7.5% compared to the baseline year, benefiting over 7.2 lakh daily commuters.
The program was implemented in coordination with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Uttar Pradesh Police, the Transport Department, the State Road Safety Committee, and local administrations. A range of safety interventions were introduced throughout the corridor.
Over 16,000 engineering hazards were identified during assessments, with more than 7,000 of them rectified through targeted infrastructure improvements. Strategic safety upgrades included the installation of crash barriers, implementation of speed calming measures, and enhancements to pedestrian facilities to improve overall road design safety.
To strengthen emergency response systems, more than 300 first responders were trained in Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS), equipping them with critical skills to manage trauma cases at the scene of accidents. Additionally, over 150 commercial vehicle drivers received training in anticipatory driving techniques to help prevent crashes before they occur.
Public awareness efforts included outdoor media campaigns and community outreach initiatives. Thirteen strategically placed billboards were installed along the highway, and branding was introduced at roadside dhabas to engage drivers and passengers with targeted safety messaging. Informative pamphlets in Hindi and English were distributed to road users, particularly around redesigned intersections, to guide them on safe navigation of the improved infrastructure.
Piyush Arora, Managing Director and CEO of SAVWIPL, emphasised the company’s commitment to road safety beyond vehicle manufacturing. “Our Made-in-India vehicles have achieved 5-star safety ratings, and we believe that safety should extend beyond the car to the roads as well,” he said. “This project demonstrates that coordinated efforts across engineering, enforcement, training, and education can lead to measurable improvements in road safety.”
This marks the second road safety collaboration between SAVWIPL and SaveLIFE Foundation. A previous initiative on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway reported a 61% reduction in fatalities over a similar period.
With several components of the NH-19 project now institutionalized within government systems, stakeholders view the initiative as a replicable and scalable model that could inform road safety improvements on other national highways across India.