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SUV Owners Pledge Road Safety in Daman, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Praises Initiative
A video showing owners of Mahindra Thar and Toyota Fortuner vehicles taking a public road-safety oath in Daman has gained attention on social media. The clip captures SUV owners gathered for what appears to be a road-safety awareness drive organised by local authorities.
The initiative involves Thar and Fortuner owners publicly pledging to drive responsibly and follow traffic regulations. Unlike conventional road-safety measures such as fines and challans, this campaign focuses on securing a public commitment from vehicle owners themselves.
Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw shared the video online and commended the effort, attributing it to the Daman Collector. She wrote that India needs this kind of "schooling" more than additional driving lessons, calling the move commendable. She added that making Thar and Fortuner owners take an oath to drive safely could sometimes be more effective than installing numerous road signs.
Her comments have amplified attention around the campaign and its unconventional approach to promoting safe driving.
The Mahindra Thar and Toyota Fortuner are among the most recognisable SUVs in India and are widely present on the country's roads. Both models often feature in social media content due to their popularity among enthusiasts, including videos of reckless driving or traffic violations that tend to attract significant online attention. Such content, however, does not reflect the behaviour of all Thar or Fortuner owners.
The Daman initiative specifically brought together owners of these two SUVs for a public road-safety exercise, emphasising personal commitment to traffic rules rather than replacing existing enforcement methods. The campaign has gained wider visibility following Mazumdar-Shaw's endorsement on social media.