Zuno General Insurance’s Talking Zebra mascot promotes road safety at a busy traffic signal | File Photo
Mumbai: Zuno General Insurance has launched a unique road safety awareness initiative, “The Talking Zebra,” to educate motorists and pedestrians about the importance of following traffic rules. The initiative, which will run from January 16th to 25th, aims to promote responsible driving habits and reduce road accidents.
As part of the campaign, a promoter dressed as a zebra will interact with people at busy traffic signals in six major cities – Mumbai, Goa, Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. The mascot will use wit and humor to remind everyone to “Keep your cool, follow traffic rules” while promoting essential practices like respecting zebra crossings, stopping at red lights, and avoiding jaywalking.
According to Shanai Ghosh, MD & CEO of Zuno General Insurance, “Road safety is a shared responsibility that requires collective action. Our Talking Zebra campaign uniquely combines education and entertainment to encourage responsible behavior among drivers and pedestrians.”
Every year, India witnesses a high number of road accidents, as per the recent Road Safety Annual Report. In 2023, over 4.80 lakh road accidents took place in the country, resulting in over 1.72 lakh fatalities. On average, India experiences 55 crashes and 20 deaths per hour in 2023.
Compared to the 2022 data on road accidents, crashes increased by 4.2%, and fatalities rose by 2.6%. In 2022, there were over 4.61 lakh road accidents and over 1.68 lakh fatalities often caused by reckless drivers who ignore traffic rules and zebra crossings.
Pedestrian safety remains a pressing concern in India, primarily due to factors such as heavy traffic, disregard for traffic regulations, and inadequate enforcement of safety measures like zebra crossings.
A recent report, “India Status Report on Road Safety 2024,” published by the TRIP Centre at IIT Delhi, highlights India’s sluggish progress in reducing road accident fatalities. Despite notable advancements in other sectors, road traffic injuries persist as a significant public health issue, with most states unlikely to meet the United Nations’ goal of halving traffic deaths by 2030.
A comparison with road safety leaders like Sweden reveals a stark contrast. In 1990, an Indian was 40% more likely to die in a road accident than a Swede. However, by 2021, this disparity had skyrocketed to 600%. Furthermore, global data indicates that India experiences the highest number of road accidents worldwide, underscoring the need for urgent attention and action to address this critical issue.
Ketan Mankikar, Head & VP Marketing & Communications, Zuno General Insurance, said, “The Talking Zebra is more than just a campaign; it’s a conversation starter, a movement to inspire everyone to follow traffic rules and make roads safer.”
Zuno General Insurance has also taken the campaign to the public encouraging them to join the movement on social media with hashtags #TalkingZebra, #RespectTheStripes, and #StayCoolFollowRules.
