Mercedes Benz inaugurates 'Safe Roads' in New Delhi

Safety is a core competency and a core value for Mercedes-Benz and its automotive brands.

Mercedes-Benz in particular, is renowned worldwide for developing highly sophisticated safety systems. However, implementation of effective safety systems remains a challenge, as the road users often do not comply with traffic rules or do not use the safety systems onboard their vehicles.

On Indian roads, approximately 140,000 people die every year of road accidents, largely caused due to ignorance of safety norms and rules. ‘Safe Roads’ was hence conceptualized by Mercedes-Benz, in an effort to reduce this startling fatality rate on Indian roads, by creating more awareness on road safety.

Mercedes-Benz is convinced that such initiatives can begin an era of road safety awareness that supports a new culture of road safety for Indians. Over 70 per cent of the fatalities can be reduced in the next ten years through education and enforcement of safety rules and by creating awareness.

This unique initiative was flagged off by Jochen Feese, Head of Accident Research, Sensor  Functions and Pedestrian Protection, Mercedes-Benz Cars, in the presence of Eberhard Kern,  Managing Director & CEO, MBIL, Erich Nesselhauf, MD & CEO, DICV and Manu Saale,  MD & CEO, MBRDI.

The event took place at Pragati Maidan in the capital here  and will continue its tour across the country.

‘Safe Roads’ is a road show that spreads the message of road safety through physical demonstration, visual aids and research reports.

Eberhard Kern, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India commented on the  initiative: “At Mercedes-Benz, safety is of utmost importance and precedes all our innovations and development. Mercedes-Benz’s contribution to global automotive industry is well recognized and has an enduring influence on safety development. Our numerous innovations, particularly in the field of protection for vehicle occupants and road users, have saved countless human lives over the years. Our latest contribution to customer safety is that, all Mercedes-Benz vehicles in India now comes equipped with new rescue stickers with QR Codes, which assists rescuer to find out where to exactly position the rescue tools on the cars- making occupant rescue harmless and safer, in case of an accident. Mercedes-Benz India is the first luxury car maker to implement this in India. We are confident that initiatives like ‘Safe Roads’ will enhance the understanding of a vehicle safety systems and spread the awareness on creating safer roads for vehicle users in India. Considering the alarming rate of accidents on Indian roads, we strongly need to address not only various behavioral aspects of the vehicle users and the related infrastructure measures, but also consider making our vehicles safer and smarter by introducing advanced safety features and driver assistance systems. We strongly believe ‘Safe Roads’ initiative will be able to underline all these aspects comprehensively and make Indian roads, ‘safer’.”