Indian companies need to promote and get serious about road safety culture among their employees, a recent report by FICCI-EY has said.
25 percent of 4.8 lakh road accidents happen during work-related commuting in India every year.
It is also important that companies develop a culture that fosters and inspires road safety among its employees.
Investing in road safety programs for employees can benefit the corporate by improving employee safety, protecting their own assets, decreasing productivity losses and enhancing the company's perception in the eyes of its own employees.
"FICCI believes that involving India Inc. can further boost the efforts of the government. The United Nations has proclaimed 2011-20 as the Decade of Action on Road Safety, hence there is a need for collective action by the Government, Industry and Civil Society", G K Pillai Chairman, FICCI Committee on Homeland Security said.
Also, a government-corporate collaboration for road safety initiatives may result in a win-win situation
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The government can benefit from innovation, data, reach and financial resources of businesses while businesses can benefit from safer roads, better laws and vehicle standards for increased road safety of their employees.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) had said that the impact of road accidents on the Indian economy was three percent of its GDP in the year 2015.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), road traffic injuries are the seventh leading cause of death in India. India accounts for 10% of global road deaths.