Global commitment to safety in road traffic.

We want to continuously improve safety for all road users. In doing so, we rely first and foremost on technological innovations because inventiveness saves lives. But our road safety initiatives are also part of our global commitment.

For example, one in ten fatal road accidents occurs in India , although only one percent of the world's vehicles are registered there.¹ According to WHO reports, more than 150,000 people died in road accidents in India in 2021 – almost twice as many as twenty years ago.

Especially in fast-growing mobility markets such as India, it is important that we not only sell safe cars but also invest in educational work and the development of traffic skills. Through our initiatives that also serve as awareness and education campaigns, we are active worldwide.

We have been implementing the SAFE ROADS initiative in India since 2015. Our aim is to provide important impetus for road safety by holding technology exhibitions and educational events from Kolkata to Mumbai to Chandigarh. The SAFE ROADS initiative has already covered many miles and reached many people.

We regularly inform the public about road safety at events, lectures and exhibitions. Here, too, we employ the latest technology: for example, we use augmented reality glasses to simulate the effect of alcohol on drivers' perception. We also show cars that have been involved in accidents. Special demonstration cars – so-called cutaway bodies – provide insights into the otherwise invisible safety technology on board modern vehicles. Or we explain how new technologies in our vehicles detect accidents, analyse dangerous situations and then make the processed data available to the on-board computer. This enables the car to draw attention to danger spots in good time.

In this way, we bring scientific findings to life and communicate knowledge in an exciting, appealing way. After almost ten years of SAFE ROADS, one thing is certain: We remain committed to the goal of reaching many people and making a continuous contribution to safer traffic for all road users.

This article was last updated in November 2024.