MoRTH partners with Uber, Zomato to boost road safety awareness across India

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has joined hands with Zomato and Uber to push road safety awareness across India, as part of the government’s Sadak Suraksha Abhiyan. This marks the third year of the campaign, which now includes private partnerships to amplify its reach and effectiveness.

Announcing the partnership, Nitin Gadkari, minister of Road Transport and Highways, said the partnership was a welcome step in advancing road safety. “Road safety is among our nation’s most critical priorities. This initiative is aimed at saving lives by fostering safer driving habits across the country,” he said.

With a large share of India’s working population and Gen Z increasingly using ride-hailing services or ordering food deliveries, the government recognises that behavioural change on the road requires collective action beyond regulation. Zomato and Uber, which together power millions of daily rides and deliveries, are ideal partners in reaching this demographic.

The minister further underlined the scale of the problem: “Every hour, 20 people die, and it is unfortunate that among the people who die, 66% of the population lies between the ages of 18 and 36. After much thought, we realised the issue is not just limited to road engineering or automobile engineering. Whatever improvements are possible at our end, we have done and continue to do so. We have brought in a new Road Safety Act and increased fines and penalties as well. Still, the results are not as positive as expected. The basic reason is human behaviour… that’s why campaigns are needed to create awareness.”

Zomato and Uber will integrate safety messages directly into their platforms to reach both drivers and consumers. For Zomato, that means delivering safety prompts via its delivery partner app and consumer-facing food delivery platform. Uber is focusing on driver education and rider awareness, along with rolling out technology-driven safety features.

Uber is strengthening safety by introducing a ‘Road Safety Pledge’ for drivers and investing in driver education programs focused on traffic rules and responsible road behaviour. The company has also introduced technological features such as Speeding Alerts and Dangerous Driving Notifications, based on GPS and telematics data, to detect behaviours like hard braking and over-speeding, and provide corrective feedback.

“At Uber, safety is not just a feature—it is a core value of our platform. Road safety in India demands collective action, and Uber will continue to lead from the front in making our cities safer for all,” said Sooraj Nair, head of Safety Operations, Uber India & South Asia. 

Additional safety features Uber has introduced include a 24x7 Safety Line, an in-app SOS button connected to police control rooms, AI-driven helmet checks and nudges for bike trips, rear seatbelt reminders in cars, and a RideCheck feature that detects trip irregularities. Accident insurance covers both drivers and riders, opting in for added security.

Meanwhile, Zomato mandates safety briefings for delivery partners, covering helmet usage, disciplined riding, and responsible behaviour. Every day begins with a safety pledge. Partners also receive real-time weather updates, precautionary alerts, and access to a 24x7 in-app SOS feature that connects them to ambulance support within minutes. Comprehensive insurance coverage further adds a layer of protection, and Zomato recognises partners who demonstrate strong road discipline and respond during emergencies.

“Safety must always come before speed. Slowing down and riding responsibly isn’t just a personal choice—it’s a lifesaving one. Together, we can make our roads safer for everyone,” said Aditya Mangla, CEO of Zomato.

The collaboration comes amid worrying trends in road safety statistics. In 2022, India recorded 4,61,312 road accidents, resulting in 1,68,491 fatalities and 4,43,366 persons injured. The situation worsened in 2023, with accidents rising to 4,80,583, fatalities reaching 1,72,890, and injuries climbing to 4,62,825. 

This campaign reinforces India’s long-term goal of halving road fatalities by 2030.