Page 76 - The Indian Optician Digital Edition September-October 2021
P. 76
SHELL’S DRIVESAFEINDIA
PROGRAMMES
oad mishaps and fatalities are
unfortunately frequent occurrences
Rin India. With about 151,000 on-road
deaths reported each year across the country,
increasing awareness of not only vehicle
upkeep, but more importantly driver welfare, is
an urgent imperative.
According to a 2019 study report by the
Shell, a diversified international energy National Crime Records Bureau, the number
company with the entire lubricants end-to-end of road accidents reported in Tamil Nadu was
value chain in India, is best known for its retail 59,499, the highest among all states in India.
fuel stations. The company is expanding this Karnataka stood third with 40,666 cases.
network from six states to other parts of the
country. “At Shell, we believe road safety is imperative
for all and the #DriveSafeIndia programme is
As part of its endeavour to support road a step forward in the right direction,” states
safety on Indian roads, Shell launched a Sanjay Varkey, director, mobility, Shell India.
DriveSafeIndia programme in February 2019. “Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are among the top
More than 260,000 (2.6 lakh) drivers were three states with highest road accidents. We
offered free eye examinations in the first phase are therefore expanding our programme in
and around 175,000 (1.75 lakh) were provided these regions to reach even more drivers with
with free pairs of spectacles. The successful the intention to improve driving performance
programme was awarded the coveted Prince and potentially preventing accidents.”
Michael International Road Safety Award for its
outstanding contribution to Road Safety in 2019. The India Vision Institute (IVI) reaches
primary eye care to underprivileged children
Shell has now partnered with the India Vision and adults in 22 states across India, including
Institute (an NGO providing access to vision screening commercial vehicle and truck drivers,
testing and spectacles to the underprivileged and allied transport workers. “The collaboration
in remote parts of India), to further expand the and synergy between the two organizations
programme and vision testing camps in Tamil should help drive a strong programme to
Nadu and Karnataka. address the vision problems of the trucking
community,” said IVI’s CEO Vinod Daniel. “We
This year’s DriveSafeIndia programme, see the #DriveSafeIndia program as a great
launched in Chennai ahead of World Sight Day opportunity to address the issue of road safety.
(14 October this year), aims to cover an additional Drivers with better vision will lead to fewer road
100,000 (one lakh) commercial vehicle and truck accidents, fatalities and unnecessary injuries.”
drivers. This will include addressing the eye
care needs of 50,000 drivers in Tamil Nadu and The next phase of DriveSafeIndia is
Karnataka and the remaining in other states. scheduled for March next year.
| SEPT-OCT 2021 | 72 REPORT
