India Accounts for 11pc of Global Road Fatalities, Despite Having Just 1pc of World's Vehicles

He has recently been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for his exceptional service to public safety.

- RITWIK MUKHERJEE

An approved Driving Instructor, trainer, and mentor, Sanjib Bhattacharjee, a British-Indian road safety advocate, has spent decades shaping national conversations on safe driving and lifelong learning. His campaigns—POWER and eco-safe driving—are now gaining traction across India, offering scalable, community-driven solutions to a national crisis.

Speaking to The Statesman, Sanjib Bhattacharjee decodes his strategies, campaigns and explains why India should treat road safety as a moral imperative, reflecting how a nation should value life, dignity, and shared progress.

Excerpts:

Q: What is the magnitude of India's road safety problems even after 79 years of Independence?

A: India is on the move—economically, technologically, and diplomatically. Yet one of its most urgent and overlooked challenges continues to claim lives every hour: road safety.

With nearly 480,000 accidents and over 180,000 deaths annually, India accounts for approximately 11 percent of global road fatalities, despite having just 1 per cent of the world's vehicles. These numbers are not just statistics; they represent lives lost, families shattered, and futures cut short. The time has come to treat road safety education not as a peripheral concern, but as a national imperative.

The scale of the crisis is staggering. Every four minutes, a life is lost on Indian roads. The economic impact is equally severe, costing the country an estimated 3 to 5 per cent of its GDP annually. This burden falls disproportionately on working-age citizens, affecting productivity, healthcare systems, and family stability. Yet the solution is within reach—and it begins with education.

Q: You often advocate what you call "defensive driving." Can you throw some light on this?