SIAM and KVS Launches Nationwide Online Road Safety Program for School Students

New Delhi, April 22, 2025: In a significant step towards fostering road safety awareness among school students, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), in association with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), under the guidance of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and the Ministry of Education, Government of India, officially launched the SIAM-KVS Road Safety Online Education Program. The launch took place at Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2, New Delhi by Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, and Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education in the august presence of Sanjay Kumar,Secretary, Ministry of Education, Prachi Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education, Nidhi Pandey, Commissioner, Kendriya Vidyalayas Sangathan, Vinod Aggarwal, Immediate Past President, SIAM, Rajesh Menon, DG, SIAM and Prashant K Banerjee, ED, SIAM.

Under the MoU signed between SIAM and KVS on August 2, 2023, the SIAM-KVS Road Safety Online Education Program aims to instill responsible road behavior among students across 1,253 Kendriya Vidyalayas. As part of SIAM’s “सुरक्षित सफर” (Safe Journey) initiative and aligned with the mission of “Building the Nation, Responsibly”, the program offers six interactive, curriculum-integrated digital modules for Foundational, Middle, and Senior Secondary levels. These cover Basic Road Safety, Pedestrian Awareness, Seatbelt & Helmet Usage, Road Rules, Safe Travel Practices, and Legal Aspects—laying the foundation for safer, more responsible mobility among India’s youth.

This launch was followed by the screening of impactful films from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways’ ‘Sadak Suraksha Abhiyaan’ campaign, reinforcing key messages around safe road practices.

Delivering the welcome remarks and presenting an overview of the program, Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, said, " We, at SIAM, are eager to join hands with all teachers and students to restore the glorious identity of India, and we believe this is possible through the support of young builders gathered here today. As India’s infrastructure transforms and the nation moves towards the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, it proudly stands as the third-largest automobile market in the world. SIAM feels honoured to contribute to this journey, but while the country progresses, road safety must advance alongside it. Through this initiative, powered by the collective efforts of SIAM, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, and our engaging mascot ‘Safe I Am- People Call Me SIAM’, we aim to instil responsible road behaviour in young minds. Through this initiative, we dedicate our collective efforts to the nation."

Delivering the keynote address as Chief Guest, Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Hon’ble Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, said, “The government has introduced several new rules, like mandatory rear seat belts, and these habits should be taught early in childhood. It’s important that these lessons start in schools. Through this program, we have approached the Ministry of Education to incorporate road safety learning in schools. I would request students to advise their parents against using mobile phones while driving, and encourage responsible behavior on roads. School infrastructure like entry and exit points must also be made safer, with lifts for children and elderly people. We want to build a socially sensitive, aware generation, and for this, we need every student to participate in spreading awareness and responsibility.”

In his address as Guest of Honor, Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Education, Government of India, said, “Road safety cannot be treated as optional as it’s an essential part of our daily lives. We all have a responsibility to teach this to our children. Our 30 crore students are the key to shaping a road-safe nation, and it’s critical that they understand the fundamentals of road safety. From Class 1 to Class 12, appropriate modules must be made, and I urge SIAM and KVS to make this possible through audio-visual tools for all students. Additionally, I suggest incorporating energy conservation awareness in schools. I would like Kendriya Vidyalaya to become a model school for road safety standards and I appeal to all students leverage social media to actively spread this awareness."

Addressing the gathering, Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Education, Government of India said, “The key is to ensure our own safety and that of others around us. It is important to develop a strong mindset about road safety, and today is the right day to begin that journey. As part of the National Education Policy, we need to give priority to development of  design thinking in schools. SIAM’s development of road safety curriculum comprising six modules that can be implemented in all Kendriya Vidyalayas is wonderful start and will help create awareness among more than 15 lakh students. Our aim is to take this program to every school across the country.”

On this occasion, Vinod Aggarwal, Immediate Past President, SIAM and Managing Director & CEO, Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles Ltd, said, "Two years ago, we signed an MoU with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan. Since then, SIAM and the Indian automobile industry have made significant strides in improving road safety. Multiple stakeholders have been actively working in areas such as education, engineering, enforcement, and emergency care. India’s safety standards today stand at par with UN regulations. This initiative is about empowerment and our goal is to instill a deep-rooted culture of road discipline and safe conduct. It marks the beginning of a long-term national movement that starts in classrooms and reaches every citizen of India."

To ensure the effectiveness of this approach, a pilot project was conducted at Kendriya Vidyalaya, R.K. Puram, New Delhi, on October 22, 2024. The pilot sessions received an overwhelming response from educators and learners alike, reaffirming the need for structured road safety learning at the school level. Based on this encouraging feedback, SIAM developed a web-based Learning Management System (LMS) to seamlessly integrate these modules into KVS academic activities. This digital platform will enable structured, interactive, and accessible road safety sessions across schools.

SIAM and its members have been actively collaborating with governments, corporations, and key stakeholders to promote safer mobility nationwide, in line with SIAM's objective of Building the Nation Responsibly.