Bengaluru traffic safety messages now featured in ‘Battlegrounds Mobile India’: Report

'Battlegrounds Mobile India' has introduced traffic safety messages related to Bengaluru in its game, targeting young players with casual, relatable alerts.

Published on: Sep 11, 2024, 15:39:03 IST

By Yamini C S

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

In a novel approach to road safety, the popular game 'Battlegrounds Mobile India' has incorporated traffic safety messages as part of a wider public awareness campaign in Karnataka capital Bengaluru. This initiative, which combines traditional billboard advertisements and social media outreach, is the result of a partnership between the local police department, game developers, and a media agency called Schbang, the Deccan Herald reported.

This initiative, part of a broader campaign involving police, game developers, and Schbang, aims to raise awareness in a familiar and engaging context. ( Udbhavi/X)

ALSO READ | Karnataka's Hashika breaks 13-year-old record on 1st day of 77th Senior National Aquatic Championships 2024

The in-game safety alerts focus on critical issues such as helmet use and speeding, among others, tailored specifically for the game's young audience, aged 16 to 25. The messages, delivered in a casual and relatable tone, include phrases like, “Macha, put off helmet da. Drive safe, drive responsibly", the report noted.

Rensilla Fernandes, who is leading the campaign, spoke to reporters and explained that the use of "Bangalore English" was a strategic choice designed to enhance relatability and effectively bridge the gap between gaming and real-world issues. Those involved in the campaign wanted to connect the game with important real-world concerns, and road safety messages are a perfect fit, Fernandes said, as quoted by the publication.

ALSO READ | Bengaluru boy, 14, finishes second in World Youth Scrabble Championship

MN Anucheth, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), also spoke on the matter and emphasized its significance. Road safety messages have been a staple of public service campaigns for some time. By integrating these messages into a popular game, authorities aimed to engage with the younger demographic and promote awareness in a setting they frequently interact with, Anucheth noted.

"It is a social service message that has been around for a while. We wanted to target this age group to raise awareness even inside the game," he told the publication.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!

Stay updated Bengaluru Weather Live and with all the Breaking News and Latest News from Bengaluru. Click here for comprehensive coverage of top cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and more across India . Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News.