A letter from The Right to Walk Foundation to Automobile manufacturers

The Right to Walk Foundation
The Right to Walk Safely on Clean, Encroachment-free Footpaths
http://www.right2walk.com/

Dear Automobile Manufacturer

The Right to Walk Foundation has been created to create awareness and fight for the Right to Walk on the clean and encroachment free pavements amongst the citizens of Hyderabad.


I quote from the Road Safety manual: (Commission for Global Safety) “Road traffic crashes can also disproportionately affect the poorest groups in society. In low and middle income countries poor people are usually vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists). They are at particular risk from the greater variety and intensity of traffic mix and the lack of separation from other road users. Slow moving and non motorised modes have to share road space with fast moving vehicles, leading to increased conflict and risk. In Mumbai, India pedestrians accounted for, 78% of road fatalities.”
Currently, we in The Right to Walk Foundation are in the process of contacting various automobile manufacturers to try and convince them of the need to form a lobby to pressurize the Police department to provide manned pedestrian crossings all over the city. Automobile manufacturers would have a definite interest in proposing and implementing solutions to reduce accident rates. In this regard, an informative video on pedestrian safety can be viewed at
http://chennairoads.wordpress.com/2007/08/06/road-safety-and-traffic-education-2/
We believe that Automobile Giants like Maruti, Ford, Ashok Leyland, and the Tatas can ensure that footpaths can be made clean and encroachment free and pedestrian crossings can be implemented.
Why do Auto Giants need to support the cause of the footpaths and pedestrian crossings?

The benefits of footpaths

1. With clean and encroachment free footpaths the motorised vehicles will be able to give a better mileage because the pedestrian will not meander or wander to the carriageway.
2. Better Pedestrian crossings will ensure that the driver does not have to halt every inch of the way and go at a reasonable speed. Above all the bus drivers will definitely find it easier to drive and bus transport efficiency will also improve.
3. Pollution will definitely come down. The presence of both the clean and encroachment free footpaths and manned pedestrian crossings will reduce the accident rates at least of the pedestrians, who are the most vulnerable members of the society. Today in India, with rising fuel costs it is all the more important that environmental friendly options are available.

What is indeed important to note is that ‘Any one of us can be a road accident victim.’

Let us take care that this does not happen to any of us.

Regards

The R2W Foundation team