The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems Mahatma Gandhi Message from the Chairman 1 History and Mission 2 Change Making: The SaveLIFE Model 3 10 Years of Impact 5 Investing in Road Safety and Emergency Medical Care 13 Partnerships to Save Lives 14 Partner Quotes 15 Voice of the Media 16 Bipartisan Support for Road Safety 17 Awards and Recognition 18 Our Donors 19 Our People, Our Strength 23 CONTENTSMoving Ahead 25 Get Involved 27 Message from the Chairman The mission of SaveLIFE Foundation would not have been possible without the hard and selfless dedication of many individuals. These include most importantly the thousands of Police first-responders who have gone out of their way to save the lives of victims of road crashes. The Staff and Board members of SaveLIFE Foundation have worked closely with donors, partners, corporate supporters, friends in the media, and community volunteers to give voice to the bereaved families that have been affected, so that solutions can be found in order that other lives can be saved. As Margaret Mead once said ”Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For indeed, that’s all who ever have.” We therefore take strength from the many caring people who have been part of this journey with us. And we thank you for your commitment and dedication to this important cause. Without you, we would not be where we are. Krishen Mehta Chairman, SaveLIFE Foundation 1 History and Mission On April 5th, 2007, my sixteen-year- old cousin Shivam was hit by a speeding jeep while crossing a road on his way home from school. As he lay on the road, Shivam begged passersby for help. While dozens of people crowded around him, no one came forward. Shivam, unable to hold on, passed away at the scene of the crash. For those of us who knew this bright and energetic teen with a zest for life, Shivam’s loss came with unimaginable pain – pain that was amplified by the fact that he would have lived if he had received help in time. What’s more is that the circumstances surrounding Shivam’s final moments are not aberrational. More than 150,000 people die in road crashes in India every year, and of these, fifty percent would have been saved had they received timely medical intervention.1 The status quo being unacceptable, SaveLIFE Foundation was formed on February 29, 2008 to confront the issue. The past ten years have been defining for the organization during which we have made several great strides. We secured India’s first-ever Good Samaritan Law to insulate those who help crash victims from ensuing harassment and intimidation; successfully campaigned for the introduction of a comprehensive road safety bill in Parliament; trained thousands of police officers, volunteers, and vulnerable driver groups in life-saving techniques; and delivered a thirty percent reduction in deaths in 2017 alone on one of India’s deadliest highways, the Mumbai Pune Expressway. With miles to go, SaveLIFE remains committed to its mission. The organization will continue to pursue improvements in road safety and emergency medical care until India’s roads are secure for the most vulnerable of users, and when crashes do occur, emergency medical departments are well-prepared to save lives. As SaveLIFE works to advance its mission, it is fortunate to have some of the best and brightest minds and hearts to anchor it. Our board members continue to work devotedly with us to build our capacity, and our staff is diligently leading some of the most complex and ambitious initiatives in the area of road safety. On this 10th Anniversary, I thank them all for their invaluable contributions. Piyush Tewari Piyush Tewari Founder & CEO, SaveLIFE Foundation 1 201st Report of the Law Commission of India, 2006 2 Change Making: The SaveLIFE Model SaveLIFE Foundation (SLF) has a straightforward approach to making impactful change in the area of road safety. We collect and analyze relevant data that forms the foundation of SLF’s programs and policy proposals. Our ideas are then advanced through zealous advocacy, strategic communication, and on-ground execution. Our model is therefore an interdependent system of research, advocacy, communication and execution, called RACE. RESEARCH EXECUTION ADVOCACY COMMUNICATION Research: Current and comprehensive data Communication: In order to engage the public remains a significant challenge in the areas of to improve their behavior on the road and be road safety and emergency medical care. Our aware of their rights and duties, SLF regularly research efforts are therefore driven by on- carries out strategic communication campaigns ground data collection using original surveys, using social and mainstream media. India’s Right to Information Act, and statistical analysis to feed initiatives across policy Execution: SaveLIFE Foundation builds advocacy, strategic communication, and proofs-of- concept by undertaking on-ground grassroots projects. implementation of best practices across road engineering, traffic enforcement, public Advocacy: We believe that lasting change education, and emergency medical care. comes when policies are inclusive and Several of our 360° interventions have been comprehensive. We therefore advocate for credited with directly saving lives on Indian frameworks that keep the most vulnerable roads on a daily basis. road users at the heart of policymaking. 3 Key activities under the RACE model • Advocating for strong policy frameworks • Providing “In Case of Emergency (ICE)” across the domains of crash prevention as cards, free-of- charge, to enable better well as post-crash response medical treatment during emergencies • Executing “Vision Zero” initiatives on • Supporting media on an ongoing basis highways and in cities and States to with data and analyses around the issue drastically reduce road crash deaths and • Assisting the Government of India and injuries in the areas various State governments with • Training Police first-responders in basic research and technical support life-saving skills, and high-risk driver • Developing original research on issues such groups in crash prevention techniques as distracted driving, drinking and • Supporting road crash victims with driving, and bystander care to feed our information on free treatment and evidence-based awareness and training rehabilitation facilities programs • Supporting bereaved families and injured • Building technology to support citizen and victims with information on compensation government engagement on road safety calculation and procedures 4 OF IMPACT Secured the Good Samaritan Law for India In the past decade, over 1 million people have the Supreme Court invoked article 141 of the been killed in road crashes in India. 50% of Constitution to institute the Good Samaritan those killed could have been saved if timely Law, a set of binding directives that insulate medical care had been provided.2 Given people from legal and procedural hassles after the poor condition of emergency medical they have helped someone. response in most parts of India, bystanders can play a game-changing role in saving lives, but they are hesitant to intervene due to fear of harassment and intimidation at the hands This intervention is expected to of the police, hospitals and courts.3 A Good save more than 75,000 lives each Samaritan (protection) law was the need year once adopted by all States and of the hour. In 2012, SaveLIFE Foundation Union Territories in India. filed a PIL in the Supreme Court asking for comprehensive nationwide protection for good Samaritans. Government of India, too, supported the petition. On March 30th, 2016, 2 201st Report of the Law Commission of India, 2006 3 Impediments to Bystander Care – A national study by SaveLIFE Foundation in 2013 5 Ensured Ban on Carriage of Protruding Rods Trucks carrying sharp construction rods, in July 2012 seeking a ban on the practice of protruding from their back frame is not an transporting protruding rods. On March 5th, uncommon scene on Indian roads. As per 2014, the Government of India, in response to a RTI-based study carried out by SaveLIFE the petition, amended the law to disallow such Foundation, more than 9000 people were killed protrusions. SaveLIFE Foundation continues to across India in 2012 alone when their vehicles monitor the implementation of the ban, which collided with such trucks. Moreover, the Central has been weak so far. Motor Vehicle Rules allowed the protrusion and gave powers to State governments to allow additional protrusion. Given the increasing Once properly implemented, this frequency of horrific crashes involving such intervention can save over 90,000 trucks, SLF moved the Supreme Court of India lives in the next decade. 6 OF IMPACT Campaigned for Strong Road Safety Bill SLF has been dedicated to campaigning for by it in April, 2017. It currently awaits passage a comprehensive road safety law that would by Rajya Sabha. reform all areas of road safety from licensing to road design As a signatory to the Brasilia Through 2013-14, SLF engaged with experts, to Declaration, India is committed to come up with recommendations to strengthen reduce its road crash deaths and road safety laws in India. The recommendations serious injuries by 50% by 2020. emphasized on protection of children and The passage of the Motor Vehicle vulnerable road users during commute, Amendment Bill 2017 will be a crucial mandatory driver training, transparent first step to achieve this vision. and efficient licensing system, stringent punishment for faulty road design, strong penalties for offences like drink-driving, among others. Simultaneously, SLF secured support of over 250,000 citizens and 60 Members of Parliament for a petition to the Prime Minister of India for urgent introduction of a road safety law for the country. Sh. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India decided to personally champion the issue and the ministry invited SaveLIFE to provide technical support in drafting a comprehensive amendment to the existing law.