The initiative aims to educate over 1.5 million students across 1,253 Kendriya Vidyalayas through interactive digital modules on responsible road behavior.
22 Apr 2025 | 313 Views | By Angitha Suresh
The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) in partnership with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) launched a nationwide online road safety education program today. The program was officially inaugurated at Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2, New Delhi by Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari and Union Minister of Education ...
This is an Autocar Pro Plus article. Subscribe to continue reading.
The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) in partnership with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) launched a nationwide online road safety education program today. The program was officially inaugurated at Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2, New Delhi by Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari and Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan.
The program introduces six interactive digital modules covering fundamentals from basic road safety to legal aspects, targeting students at foundational, middle, and senior secondary levels. This initiative falls under SIAM's "सुरक्षित सफर" (Safe Journey) campaign and aligns with their mission of "Building the Nation, Responsibly."
During the event, Gadkari emphasized the importance of early road safety education, noting that new rules like mandatory rear seat belts should be taught during childhood. "Through this program, we have approached the Ministry of Education to incorporate road safety learning in schools," he said, encouraging students to advise their parents against using mobile phones while driving.
Pradhan called road safety an essential part of daily life rather than an optional subject. "Our 30 crore students are the key to shaping a road-safe nation," he stated, suggesting that Kendriya Vidyalayas should become model schools for road safety standards.
The program follows a memorandum of understanding signed between SIAM and KVS on August 2, 2023. A pilot project conducted at Kendriya Vidyalaya, R.K. Puram on October 22, 2024, received positive feedback, prompting SIAM to develop a web-based Learning Management System to integrate the modules into KVS academic activities.
India has been making significant progress in road safety measures in recent years. According to government data, the country witnesses over 150,000 road fatalities annually, with a substantial percentage involving school-age children. The automobile industry has been working alongside the government to improve safety standards, bringing them in line with UN regulations.
SIAM Executive Director Prashant K Banerjee highlighted India's position as the third-largest automobile market globally while stressing that road safety must advance alongside national progress. Vinod Aggarwal, Immediate Past President of SIAM, noted that the initiative marks "the beginning of a long-term national movement that starts in classrooms and reaches every citizen of India."
The program is expected to reach over 1.5 million students, creating a foundation for safer mobility as India continues its infrastructure development toward the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
SIAM, an apex national body representing major vehicle and vehicular engine manufacturers in India, has been actively collaborating with governments and stakeholders to promote safer mobility nationwide in accordance with its objective of building the nation responsibly.