India is also getting a rousing applause for its efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic. Given the population load and weak public health infrastructure, it was feared that the pandemic might result in high levels of casualties or morbidities. A sustained sensitization programme coupled with the selfless services of thousands of corona warriors, has managed to keep the casualties low in India when measured in the context of its population.

However, this piece is not about waxing eloquent on the revival of the Indian economy or how we have taken the challenge of Coronavirus pandemic head-on or the way we have set a global benchmark in coming out with vaccines with single minded focus.

In fact, it is about our continued apathy to deal with another, and no less detrimental, challenge that has been rearing its head for years on end. Yes it’s about India’s poor track record of road safety where India continues to have the dubious distinction of largest number of road fatalities in the world. So much so that even during the April- June’20 period when a lockdown was imposed across the country, India lost as many as 20732 precious lives in road crashes.

Two recent pieces of news have been especially troubling. The number of fatalities due to collisions with parked vehicles on roads has more than doubled in the past three years. From 2317 such fatalities in 2017, the number has gone up to 5086 in 2020.

The use of retro reflective tapes on all commercial and transport vehicles is mandatory to obtain fitness certificate as per Motor Vehicle rules. However, leave alone cautionary signs to alert other drivers about parked or punctured vehicles, several parked trucks do not even have retro reflective tapes making stranded vehicles in the middle of the road a huge safety hazard especially at night.

Similarly, the usage of high beam continues to be very common in India. The purpose of the high beam is to provide a clear view to the driver at places where there is no immediate source of light. Under normal driving conditions low beams perfectly serve the purpose. However, as shown by a survey, as many as 74% drivers do not care if they are using dippers correctly. The other person can be blinded (for a few seconds) from direct exposure to a high beam or the glare in the rear-view mirror.

I would strongly urge the readers to visit #DimTheLights campaign being run by Apollo Tyres, an ATMA member. The campaign hopes to reduce the danger of accidents by encouraging drivers to use the high beams on their cars responsibly.

Generally, there is an attempt on the part of the Governments to soft pedal the uncomfortable data. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case here and the Government plans to take road safety in a mission mode.

Speaking at the National Road Safety Council meeting in January this year, Hon’ble Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari minced no words when he stated “ Please publish all data on road deaths every month. Let everyone get exposed how they have failed. Let people pull us up, question us about failures and then only everyone will work… This is one area where we need immediate action. We can’t wait”.

The action is evident. For the first time, the National Highways Authority of India has promulgated a policy of heavy fines on contractors for accidents and deaths caused by structural defects in design, construction or maintenance of the stretches maintained by them. Such agencies will also not be allowed to bid for any NH project for three years.

Deaths due to Coronavirus are estimated at 1.5 lakh in the last one year in India. That’s roughly equal to road fatalities in road crashes year after year.

India has launched vaccination against Coronavirus in double quick time. Similar zeal is required to tackle the issue of road safety on a war footing. Would 2021 be different?

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Dr Suttipong Angthong, Secretary-General of the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC), was a distinguished speaker at the World Elastomer Technology and Engineering Forum (WETEF) in Shanghai from 13 to 16 September 2026. Co-organised with RubberTech China, the event attracted over 100,000 professional visitors, industry leaders, scholars and executives from dozens of countries.

His participation delivered strategic benefits for ANRPC and its members by raising natural rubber's profile amid global discussions dominated by synthetic elastomers and advanced materials. Aligning with WETEF's eco-friendly manufacturing focus, he promoted climate-positive practices, traceability and environmentally sound processing methods.

The forum also created direct dialogue channels with major consuming markets and international technical institutions, strengthening trade synergies. It provided valuable insights into breakthrough elastomer science, helping member nations adapt to shifting international market demands.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Kuraray Co., Ltd. has contributed JPY 9,896,480, roughly USD 64,000, to four international nonprofit organisations. The funds were generated through employee participation in ‘100 Challenge’, a global initiative tied to the company’s centennial observances.

The World Food Programme received JPY 2,804,003, while UNICEF was granted JPY 2,474,120. WaterAid obtained JPY 2,405,394 and WWF was allocated JPY 2,212,963. Each organisation’s share corresponded directly to points accumulated by Kuraray Group staff.

The Group marked its 100th anniversary in June 2026, adopting ‘Possible starts here’ and a related brand story as the guiding concept for its centennial activities. While honouring those who built its first century, Kuraray is pursuing diverse efforts intended to shape the next 100 years, with employees worldwide at the centre. The company seeks to connect staff across departments, countries and languages, fostering unity and connection.

A dedicated app called ‘100 Challenge’, inspired by younger employees, formed one such effort. Participants completed 100 in-app tasks, earning points that supported social contribution activities. The app provided a shared experience regardless of location or role, with individual efforts contributing to both a commemorative mosaic artwork and charitable donations. By combining small individual challenges, the initiative illustrated how personal actions can generate meaningful collective impact, reflecting long-held Kuraray Group values.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

TyreSafe has entered a new partnership with Staffordshire Police, reinforcing a joint commitment to improve road safety and reduce fatalities and serious injuries across the county. The collaboration aims to highlight the critical role tyres play in protecting road users by encouraging simple, regular checks of pressure, tread depth and overall condition.

The value of this preventative approach was recently demonstrated during a multi-agency enforcement operation at the DVSA Vehicle Inspection Site in Doxey. Held on 25 August, Operation Doxey involved Staffordshire Police, West Mercia Police, DVSA, Datatag, the Forensic Collision Investigation Unit and TyreSafe. Inspectors directed 30 vehicles into the site, covering leisure vehicles, towing vehicles, light commercial vehicles and goods vehicles.

Seven tyre and wheel-related defects, mechanical risks and pressure discrepancies were identified. These included a tyre cut through to the cord, which received an immediate prohibition notice, a tyre running roughly 30 percent below recommended pressure, an overweight light commercial vehicle with a nail embedded in a tyre and all four tyres underinflated, a significant rear axle pressure imbalance, a missing wheel nut and an 11-year-old tyre. Leisure vehicle owners generally showed good tread awareness, though pressure maintenance remained an issue, while commercial vehicles presented several preventable defects.

Staffordshire has one of UK’s statistically safest road networks, yet serious collisions remain a concern, particularly on single carriageways. Rural bends, changing speed limits and limited visibility add risk, while motorcyclists and vulnerable road users are disproportionately affected. Common factors include failing to look properly, misjudging speed or path and driving too fast or carelessly. TyreSafe now works with over 260 organisations, and this partnership encourages Staffordshire motorists to make tyre checks routine.

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “We are delighted to welcome Staffordshire Police as a TyreSafe partner. While Staffordshire has a strong road safety record, every serious collision has potentially devastating consequences for those involved, their families and their communities. The recent Operation Doxey enforcement activity demonstrates exactly why preventative vehicle maintenance matters. Across just 30 vehicles, inspectors identified a number of serious tyre and wheel defects, including a tyre cut to the cord, significantly incorrect tyre pressures, an embedded nail, a missing wheel nut and a tyre that was 11 years old.

“These findings are a powerful reminder that problems are not always obvious from behind the wheel. Simple checks before a journey can help identify issues before they become a danger on the road. Different roads present different challenges, particularly rural and single carriageway roads where the consequences of losing control or being unable to stop safely can be especially severe. Road safety requires a collective effort, and partnerships such as this are incredibly important. By combining the reach and expertise of Staffordshire Police with TyreSafe’s specialist knowledge and campaigns, we can help more road users understand the simple but crucial role their tyres play in keeping themselves and others safe.”

Police Sergeant Adam Van de Sande, Staffordshire Road Crime – Proactive & Harm Reduction Team, said, “Keeping people safe on Staffordshire’s roads requires everyone to play their part. We are committed to working with partners to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our road network. Operation Doxey demonstrated the value of partnership working, with officers, vehicle examiners and road safety specialists able to identify a range of defects and safety issues before those vehicles continued their journeys.

“Vehicle safety is an important part of that responsibility, and tyres are fundamental to a vehicle’s ability to stop, steer and maintain grip. We are pleased to be working with TyreSafe to raise awareness and encourage motorists to make regular tyre checks part of their routine vehicle maintenance. Our message to road users is simple: don’t wait for something to go wrong. Take a few minutes to check your vehicle and make sure it is ready for the road.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The AZuR Network has been honoured with the German Award for Sustainability Projects 2026 in the C2C/Recycling category for its ‘Retreading: Climate Protection on Wheels’ project. The recognition highlights the network's efforts to expand tyre retreading across Germany and Europe, thereby extending the useful life of tyres. Retreading works by reusing a suitable used tyre casing and applying a fresh tread, keeping a substantial share of the original tyre in circulation.

A life cycle assessment commissioned by AZuR and carried out by the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT compared retreaded tyres with equivalent new ones. Under the conditions examined, producing a retreaded truck tyre generated roughly 135 kilogrammes less greenhouse gas emissions, a reduction exceeding 60 percent. The process also reuses considerable portions of the existing tyre casing, reinforcing its environmental advantages.

The jury underscored the project's scalability and its relevance to the industry. Official documentation further noted the political integration of the topic as a key strength, with the EU taxonomy confirmation in 2025 representing a tangible milestone. The award places AZuR among well-known companies and innovative projects, including a climate protection cooker initiative in Cameroon, a capsule-free coffee system and a mental health awareness campaign.

Knauf secured first place in the same category with its circular gypsum supply chain, while Schmitz Cargobull led the Mobility and Logistics Solutions category. Other first-place winners included DEKRA, Hansgrohe, Pfleiderer Germany and SBRS. Presented by DISQ with ntv and DUP UNTERNEHMER under Brigitte Zypries' patronage, the 2026 edition saw 433 nominations, with 46 organisations recognised across 19 categories on 17 September in Berlin.

Christina Guth, Network Coordinator, AZuR, said, “This award belongs to our entire network. Retreading only works when many stakeholders collaborate along the value chain – from certified end-of-life tyre recyclers, tyre manufacturers and retreaders to retailers and fleet operators, all the way to academia. The award highlights the potential of using high-quality tyres for longer and keeping their casings in circulation.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!