SEP 04: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, emphasized the importance of road safety education in regional languages during the 7th FICCI Road Safety Awards & Symposium 2025 held in New Delhi. Speaking on the theme “Vision Zero: Life First, Always”, he announced a new initiative by MoRTH, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, to integrate road safety into school and college curricula across India in all major regional languages.
Launching the campaign at a Central School, Shri Gadkari noted that teaching children about road safety from a young age is crucial for shaping responsible future citizens. “Despite technological progress, the biggest challenge is changing human behaviour on roads,” he said. “The best way is to start early—with awareness and training.”
Key initiatives announced include:
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Bharat NCAP for improved vehicle safety ratings
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Enforcement of Bus Body Code and routine road safety audits
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Fatigue detection systems and AC cabins for truck drivers
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Awareness campaigns featuring icons like Amitabh Bachchan and music by Shankar Mahadevan in 22 languages
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₹25,000 rewards for Good Samaritans under the Rah-Veer Scheme
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Mandatory lift-enabled footbridges and scooter-friendly infrastructure
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Involvement of retired professionals in educational outreach
Shri Gadkari concluded by stressing the shared responsibility of every citizen to follow road rules and support accident victims.
The event, organized by FICCI, honoured leading companies and institutions for their outstanding work in promoting road safety and contributing to the government’s goal of reducing road fatalities across the country.
