Bangalore, March 17, 2013:
“Maruti Suzuki Explore Bangalore”, a day-long treasure hunt, marked the culmination of the campaign started by Maruti Suzuki Driving Schools to Promote Road Safety across India. Over 150 bikes and 100 cars registered to participate in this initiative that was flagged off at 9 am by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dr. Abdulla M Saleem, IPS from Kanteerava stadium. Mr Maruti Samrani, Joint Commissioner of Police, Transport, gave away the prizes after the day-long fun filled activity.
Besides cracking the cryptic clues unraveling the treasures of garden city, the participants were judged on valid license, safe driving practices, speeding, riding gears, insurance, and emission norms among others.
They were flagged off from Kanteerava stadium and went to Bull Temple to Bangalore Palace to KSLTA, (Cubbon Park) to Ramlingeshwara Natural Cave Temple, (Banerghatta Road) to Ashok Pillar, (Jayanagar) to VIT Science Museum, (MG Road), Shiva Temple, (Kemp Fort, Old Airport Road), to Cantonment Railway Station to Ulsoor Lake and return back to Kanteerva Stadium.
Participation was divided into four categories namely Students, Senior Citizens, All Women and General and Clubs like Bike Brigades and Car Clubs. Mr. Raghu Prasad and team won the overall car category driving in a Maruti Suzuki A-Star while Bharti and her team, driving a Maruti Suzuki A Star again, came second. In the bike category overall, Milind Hiremath stood first, Siddharth came in second while Muhammad Zubair stood third.
The 13 Maruti Driving Schools in Bangalore conducted educative seminars at tech parks, corporate complexes and clubs. Fun filled and stress buster activities were organised at malls, colleges and residential complexes. Incidentally, the first Maruti Driving School was opened in Bangalore in November 2005 and has trained almost 100,000 drivers till date.
Bangalore city traffic accidents have increased 130% while the road length is up just 8% in the last decade. Bangalore reported 755 fatal accidents last year and 4767 non fatal. There were many ‘Near Miss” cases which have potential of becoming accidents in future but can be addressed if corrective measures are taken immediately. The initiatives will educate drivers on road safety, safety gears like wearing helmets and seat belts, traffic rules with an objective to make Bangalore accident safe city.
Mahesh Rajoria, General Manager, Maruti Driving Schools, informed,“According to WHO, road traffic injury is the leading killer of youth. Victims of 30% of road crash deaths in India are in the 15-24 age bracket. Our program has been designed keeping in mind these needs. The workshops are using engaging methods to create momentum and spread awareness. In Japan, our parent company Suzuki is involved with road safety education right at the elementary school levels, which helps young citizens become more aware and responsible adults.”
India’s leading car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki announced nationwide Road Safety Month following the international calendar that began on World Safety Day, March 4. Over 250 Maruti Driving Schools across India planned series of activities including street plays, joint campaigns with the Traffic Police Departments, Canter activity and radio and outdoor campaigns.
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