IIT Madras CoE for Road Safety hosts Zero Accident Day Campaign

chennai: the centre of excellence for road safety (coers) at iit madras, in collaboration with the greater chennai traffic police (gctp), launched the "zero accident day" (zad) campaign to address the alarming rate of road accidents in india, which claims 150,000 lives annually. this initiative aims to foster road safety awareness and reduce fatalities.the campaign, inaugurated by key officials including r sudhakar, ips, and dr. alby john varghese, ias, features a range of activities. these include scientific crash investigation training for 69 officers, gamified road safety education for children, and capacity-building workshops for bus drivers. metropolitan transport corporation (mtc) drivers receive simulator-based training to enhance their driving skills.the campaign also extends to the broader community, engaging youth through reel-making competitions and flash mobs, and sensitizing e-commerce platforms, it firms, and residential associations. activities promoting traffic rule compliance, such as wearing seatbelts and helmets, are also part of the effort.iit madras director prof. v. kamakoti emphasized the initiative's potential to change public mindset towards safer driving practices, while prof. venkatesh balasubramanian highlighted the need for continuous education on road safety. the zad campaign, spanning 20 days with various themes, aspires to make chennai a zero-accident city, at least for one day, by instilling responsible road user behavior.