A nationwide initiative has screened 50,000 truck drivers across six Indian states, revealing that more than half of them suffer from vision problems that could jeopardize road safety. The findings of Project Abhay, presented at IIT Delhi on January 29, show that 55.1% of drivers need vision correction, and 93.7% received immediate care at on-site health camps.
Led by IIT Delhi’s Centre for Rural Development & Technology in collaboration with Foresight Foundation and the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, the initiative uncovered widespread health concerns among commercial drivers. Along with vision issues, 57.4% of drivers had high blood pressure, and 44.3% were classified as overweight or obese.
Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari emphasized the broader impact of the project on India’s logistics sector, pointing out the country’s severe driver shortage, with only 75 drivers available for every 100 trucks. He stressed that improving driver welfare is essential for reducing India’s annual traffic fatalities, which currently total 180,000 deaths from 500,000 accidents.
The program has also boosted social security coverage for drivers, raising the number of covered individuals from 51.5% to 86.16%, benefiting over 62,700 family members with a cumulative value of ₹502 crore. Launched in March 2024, Project Abhay operates in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
Using a dedicated app for real-time data collection and camp management, the initiative ensures timely interventions for health issues detected during screenings. The findings suggest that improving driver health and working conditions could help address some of India’s larger transportation challenges, including high logistics costs, which currently account for 14-16% of operational expenses.
