Two Australian organisations are using their complementary training skills and research experience to address major road safety challenges in South Asia.
Road fatalities and road trauma are problems of national significance in India and neighbouring countries in South Asia.
India alone has the highest number of recorded road deaths in the world, with around 180,000 people killed in crashes in 2024 (Source: Economic Times of India, Nitin Gadkari announces 'cashless treatment' scheme for road accident victims, 8 January 2025).
These are figures the University of Adelaide’s Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR) and road safety specialist firm Martin Small Consulting hope to reverse. Together, they have developed a unique road safety program designed to reduce the high level of road accidents in South Asia.
Joining forces to meet the challenge
CASR and Martin Small Consulting are both based in Adelaide, South Australia. CASR is internationally recognised as a leading independent research organisation in road safety. It has been at the forefront of this field for more than 30 years. Martin Small Consulting helps governments and organisations deliver safer transport environments and reduce road fatalities. Its consulting projects have been implemented across more than 25 countries for clients such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and national governments.
The 2 organisations have partnered on a wide range of road safety projects for more than a decade. They joined forces again after hearing of a request for tender to deliver a road safety program for the South Asia Regional Infrastructure Connectivity (SARIC) initiative.
‘We agreed that under the leadership of the University of Adelaide, we could put together a compelling case,’ says Director of CASR, Associate Professor Jeremy Woolley. ‘We were delighted to have been selected from a very competitive field and be given the opportunity to deliver the project.’
A pathway towards saving lives
The resulting SARIC Road Safety Management Training Program has been presented to transport executives from 6 countries across South Asia – Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The program was delivered with the University’s Professional and Continuing Education group at its specialised training facilities. It involved interactive site visits, panel discussions, networking events and workshops with world-renowned road safety researchers. The aim was to upskill participants’ road safety engineering and management principles, and hone their capability to develop effective approaches to road safety management challenges in their countries.
The program is now being considered for delivery at national or state level in India. The focus is on working with Indian government agencies that have substantial road safety responsibilities – sectors such as transport, highways, police and health.
‘We want to work with them and their stakeholders to help them take a step up in their road safety management, knowledge and practice,’ says Associate Professor Woolley.
He says the program can also be adapted to an industrial or commercial setting, ‘recognising the significant risk that many corporate operations face in road traffic.
‘It would also be relevant in some of the large metropolitan areas, such as Chennai, where Martin Small Consulting led the preparation of a city road safety strategy,’ he adds.
Participants from South Asia attended the SARIC Road Safety Management Training Program in Adelaide.
Rewards on both sides
The feedback from participants who have undertaken the training program has been overwhelmingly positive. ‘They have praised the program’s operational excellence and delivery, underscoring its impact on addressing their road safety challenges,’ says Associate Professor Woolley.
‘It’s been incredibly rewarding seeing the improvements in knowledge and skills among the participants. It is wonderful to know that this work has the potential to save lives and reduce injuries in South Asia in the long run.’
The value of the SARIC Road Safety Management Training Program was recently recognised at the prestigious international LearnX Live! Awards. The program received the top honour – a Platinum Award – for its industry-specific learning impact.
‘We anticipate that this program will be of value to our partners in South Asia and Southeast Asia for some years to come,’ says Associate Professor Woolley.
Collaboration to ensure success
A number of other organisations have played a key role in the project.
Among them is Indian advisory agency Palladium – the Australian Government’s management and delivery partner for SARIC. ‘Palladium has worked with the University of Adelaide to ensure the success of the program,’ says Associate Professor Woolley. ‘It did a great job within its own networks to draw together a very strong cohort of 17 transport executives and managers from South Asian countries to participate in the program in Adelaide.’
Austrade’s Future Skills Initiative (FSI) and Education teams have been liaising with Palladium for some time to identify opportunities in the consulting and skilling space. Together with the South Australian Government, they’ve also been promoting the University of Adelaide’s training and capacity-building expertise. This project expands the university’s footprint in India and enhances South Australia’s reputation as a potential hub for future road safety training.
Austrade also alerted the road safety community about the request-for-tender opportunity.
‘Austrade has played a very positive role in promoting Australian road safety capability in India over the past decade,’ says Associate Professor Woolley. ‘This includes a road safety–specific trade mission to New Delhi in 2015.’
The success of the road safety program highlights the bilateral opportunities for Australian training providers and Indian organisations – a core focus of the FSI. The outcome also aligns with the India Economic Strategy to 2035 that identifies skills, infrastructure and road safety as major partnership opportunities for Australian businesses.
‘Australia has expertise in traffic management, safety and driver education,’ says Vik Singh, Trade and Investment Commissioner, Austrade. ‘India can leverage these strengths by focusing on training and building a skilled workforce dedicated to fostering a culture of safety.’
Contact Vik Singh, Trade and Investment Commissioner, Austrade, for more information on the Australia India Future Skills Initiative.
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