Firm takes the initiative to promote traffic sense

The number of vehicles in Bangalore has been increasing exponentially over the years. With a disproportionate number of these accidents involving software professionals and nearly 50 per cent of the traffic rule violaters being techies, many software firms are losing sleep over the matter.

The resulting fatalities have prompted many socially-concerned individuals and firms to take up initiatives to check the number of such accidents. A lot of energy has gone into spreading traffic awareness among their staff and among the general public.

To coincide with the Road Safety Week (January 2-8), Ness Technologies has launched an initiative called the 'Traffic Pointers'. By training employees on road safety through this, it hopes to rein in employees who would violate traffic rules and two-wheeler riders who do not wear helmets.

"The grim figure of 800 deaths in road accidents and with 9,000-10,000 road accidents being reported every year in the city calls for all stake holders to come together to deal with the problem," said M N Reddy, traffic commissioner.

There is the need for a joint initiative on the part of the corporate sector and the government to create awareness among the employees, added Reddy.

Kalpana Kar, former member of the hibernating BATF, said: "The initiative will help expand employee's sense of awareness on traffic safety. We can also provide critical accident prevention aid to citizens."

The initiative includes efforts at three levels. At the company level Ness has provided 1,500 helmets to its staff; it is initiating incentives and disincentive for its employees; and it is structuring social and emotional pressure.

She cited the case of MADD (Mothers Against Drunken Driving in the US) as an example of what pressure such a body can bring.

"We shall try to rope in more companies into the initiative. The ultimate objective will be to have a network of companies to spread awareness on road safety," added Kar.

Raviv Zoller, president and CEO, Ness Technologies speaking to reporters from Tel Aviv via video conferencing, said, "It was a serious accident some years ago that led to the children in an employee's family being left orphans that woke us up to the need for road safety."