Road Safety Network Leads Walkathon with Student Community in Lucknow to Champion Safer Streets During UN Global Road Safety Week

Lucknow, May 16, 2025: As part of the ongoing UN Global Road Safety Week, the Road Safety Network, in collaboration with its key partners Consumer VOICE and Consumer Guild, organized a Walkathon in Lucknow to raise awareness about speed management and the urgent need for safer infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.

The event saw enthusiastic participation from the student community of Gautam Buddha Public Inter College, Lucknow, along with Traffic Police officials, including Mr. Devendra Shahi, Traffic Inspector/In-charge, and other department representatives. Also present were Mrs. P. Shukla, Principal of Gautam Buddha Inter College, Syed Ahitsham, Road Safety Trainer, and representatives from civil society organizations, college staff, and hundreds of students and road safety advocates.

Held under this year’s global theme, “Make Walking & Cycling Safe,” the Walkathon began at Gautam Buddha Inter College and concluded at Bijnor Road. Participants carried placards and raised slogans demanding safer roads, scientific speed limits, and stronger road safety policies. On this occasion, a memorandum was also submitted to the Uttar Pradesh Transport Department, emphasizing the need for urgent interventions in road safety infrastructure and enforcement.

The walkathon was a clarion call for the Uttar Pradesh government to adopt comprehensive speed management guidelines and implement a robust State Road Safety Action Plan. The growing number of road crashes in the state—46,052 accidents, 24,118 deaths, and 34,665 injuries in 2024 alone (source)—has made urgent policy action a necessity, not a choice. Lucknow continues to rank highest in road accidents among all districts, further underscoring the need for immediate reforms.

Speaking on behalf of the organizing partners, Ashim Sanyal, CEO, Consumer VOICE, added, “Pedestrian and cyclist safety must be at the core of urban mobility planning. It’s time for Uttar Pradesh to act decisively—by adopting smart speed limits and investing in safe infrastructure—to protect its citizens and meet its road safety commitments.”

Abhishek Srivastava, Chairperson, Consumer Guild, stressed, “There is an urgent need to implement speed management frameworks such as those developed by IIT Kharagpur. These scientifically determined guidelines, when paired with a strong state road safety action plan, can prevent thousands of avoidable deaths and injuries every year.”

Through this initiative, Road Safety Network and its partners aim to amplify the voices of young citizens, encourage grassroots participation, and advocate for a safer, more inclusive mobility ecosystem across the state. The Lucknow walkathon is part of a broader nationwide movement demanding data-backed, actionable road safety policies.