As India faces a staggering toll of over 1.77 lakh road fatalities in 2024, Hero MotoCorp—the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer—is shifting the conversation from simple “compliance” to a deeper sense of “purpose.”
Following the conclusion of a high-intensity, three-month Save India campaign, Vikram Kasbekar (Executive Director and CTO at Hero MotoCorp) shared insights into how the company is tackling the unique risks of two-wheeler mobility through a mix of high-tech engineering and psychological intervention.
The Five Pillars of Safety
Hero MotoCorp’s strategy treats safety as a holistic ecosystem rather than just a feature list. Their approach is built on:
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Engineering: Designing bikes for harsh Indian conditions.
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Education: Training and behavioral change.
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Enforcement: Working with authorities (though Hero believes conviction works better than fines).
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Emergency Response: Improving medical reaction times.
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Access to First Aid: Ensuring immediate help is available.
Targeting Vulnerable Groups
The ‘Save India’ campaign moved beyond general awareness to focus on high-risk demographics:
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Gig Workers: Under pressure for quick deliveries, 2,500 workers have been trained to manage speed and fatigue, with a goal to reach 5,000.
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Women Riders: Hero hosted night rallies to promote confidence and independence while emphasizing defensive riding.
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Students: “Catch them young” is the motto. By educating children, Hero aims to influence parents and build a lifelong culture of safety.
Engineering Safety: Tech That Alerts, Not Overrides
Kasbekar highlighted a key philosophy: The rider must remain in control. Rather than systems that take over the vehicle, Hero focuses on tech that assists:
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Corner-Bending Lights: First introduced in their scooters to improve visibility during turns.
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Combined Braking Systems (CBS): Currently used in 40% of their fleet to assist riders who use only the rear brake.
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Democratizing ADAS: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (including cameras and lidar) are being introduced in models like the Zoom 160 to make premium safety affordable through economies of scale.
The Future: AI and Machine Learning
Hero is increasingly looking at data-driven safety. By collaborating with NGOs and analyzing city camera feeds and traffic signal data, the company uses machine learning to identify risky driving patterns. This allows them to design specific interventions for the most common causes of accidents—notably speeding (65% of cases) and night riding (25% of cases).
A Closing Message for Riders
“Have patience, ride defensively, and follow the rules.” — Vikram Kasbekar, Hero MotoCorp
With Hero’s Zoom 160 entering production with ADAS features, the company is betting that the combination of “smart” hardware and a “safe” mindset is the only way to significantly reduce the fatality numbers on Indian roads.
