Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) in association with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Govt of India, to develop codes of practice for safe taxi operations in India
New Delhi, 28 March, 2017: The Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE), in association with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, organized a two-day national conference - Safer and Convenient Taxi Operations in India. The conference was aimed at developing a ‘Code of Practice’ for taxi operations in the country. The conference was supported by Goodyear India Ltd under its ‘Safer Roads, Safer You’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative.
‘Safer Roads, Safer You’ is a unique initiative that has contributed positively to road safety management. The programme has supported individual, small, medium and large taxi fleet owners and aggregators in their efforts to strengthen the safety and efficiency of their cab services. This capacity building effort has been made possible through training of drivers in the most crucial domains of passenger safety, passenger service, defensive driving, passenger vehicle maintenance, and incident management.
The conference was organized in line with the development of a National Code for Taxi Operations, which focuses not only on safety, but also a commitment towards delivering a quality, consistent and comfortable world-class experience for travellers. The guidelines aim to create a platform of excellence and support for drivers, service providers, women and customers with special needs like the elderly, children and differently abled. The keynote speaker for the conference was Mr Sanjay Beniwal, IPS, Special Commissioner of Police- Women Safety, Airport and Modernization, Delhi. Padmashri Dr. Uma Tuli, Founder and Managing Secretary of the Amar Jyoti Foundation and Charitable Trust chaired the session on ‘Making Taxis Safe and Convenient for Passengers with Disability and the Elderly.
Mr. Trevor Wedge, Former Chief – Driver Standards Agency, United Kingdom, while chairing the session on ‘Code of Practice for Taxi Driver Training and Licensing’ stated that ‘a Code of Conduct is a must to set minimum taxi industry protocol and standards of customer service’.
“Taxi operations are on the rise and have become a critical part of public transport. It is vital to not only ensure a safe, comfortable and quality ride for the public while taking care of the needs of women, elderly and differently abled, but also to make sure that drivers are treated with equal respect and dignity. Goodyear has been working with us since 2016 and we believe ‘Safer Roads, Safer You’ is an initiative that has and will continue to transform the taxi service operations in the country,’’ said Dr Rohit Baluja, President, The Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE).
A short film to raise awareness amongst taxi drivers was also released during the conference. The film focused on topics such as dealing with customers respectfully, the safety and security of women passengers, having the knowledge of prevailing legislations, and proper maintenance of their vehicles. The film showcases the need for these codes of practice, explaining the focus on safe taxi operations by the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) in association with Goodyear India Ltd.
About Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE)
Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) is a non-profit research based organization formed in December 1991 by an interdisciplinary group of members including educationists, doctors, journalists, ex-servicemen, architects, and automobile experts and members of the police etc. with a single aim to make the Indian roads safer for those who use them.
The IRTE has trained over 670,000 drivers over the last 15 years and its Department of Driver Training has extensively researched the development of the training modules for different stakeholders and the entire process has been audited for successful implementation.
IRTE is a member of the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration and the Towards Zero Foundation representing India. IRTE has earned a Roster Consultative Status from the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 2010. IRTE has also been participating at the United Nations Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety as an observer.
About Goodyear India Ltd
Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tyre companies. It employs about 66,000 people and manufactures its products in 48 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.
Goodyear’s presence in India is over 90 years old, with two plants, one each in Ballabgarh and Aurangabad. In the passenger car segment, Goodyear India supplies tyres to many of the leading Original Equipment Manufacturers. Goodyear India has also been a pioneer in introducing tubeless radial tyres in this segment. In the farm segment, in India, Goodyear tyres are supplied to all the major tractor companies.
No comments:
Post a Comment