SIAM Hosts Annual Meet To Boost Road Safety Education

India’s push for safer roads is gaining momentum through education, as the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) hosted the Annual Principals’ Meet 2026 in Delhi. The event brought together over 400 school principals to strengthen road safety awareness among students and promote responsible behaviour from a young age.

Held under the theme “Bridging the Gap: Connecting Road Awareness with Education,” the initiative highlighted the growing need to integrate road safety into school learning systems.

Road safety education takes priority in schools

The Annual Principals’ Meet 2026 focused on embedding road safety education within school curricula. Organised in collaboration with Delhi Traffic Police, Yamaha Motor India and Hindustan Times, the initiative aimed to bridge the gap between awareness and real-life behaviour on roads.

Over 400 school leaders join road safety mission

More than 400 principals from across Delhi NCR participated in the event, reaffirming their commitment to promoting safe road practices among students. The programme is part of SIAM’s ‘Safe Journey’ initiative, which continues to expand road safety outreach through structured school engagement.

Education seen as key to reducing road accidents

Experts at the event highlighted that despite advancements in vehicle safety technologies, road accident fatalities continue to rise in India. They stressed that behavioural change, driven through education, is essential to address this challenge.

Structured modules introduced in collaboration with schools have already reached over one lakh students, with plans to expand further.

Collaboration drives road safety awareness initiatives

The event underscored the importance of collaboration between government bodies, industry stakeholders, schools, and media in improving road safety outcomes.

Enforcement and education must work together

Officials pointed out that major causes of road fatalities include not wearing helmets, lack of seatbelt use, and over-speeding. Pedestrians and two-wheeler users remain the most vulnerable groups.

They emphasised that while enforcement acts as a deterrent, education helps build long-term awareness and responsible habits, especially when introduced at an early age.

Schools play central role in shaping behaviour

Speakers highlighted that schools are key to creating lasting change. By educating students early, schools can influence not only individual behaviour but also family and community practices.

The initiative encourages students to become responsible road users and advocates for safety within their households.

Industry and media support strengthens impact

The meet also reflected strong support from industry and media partners, reinforcing the importance of a collective approach to road safety.

Industry focuses on awareness beyond products

Industry representatives stressed that road safety is not limited to vehicle manufacturing but extends to community responsibility. Creating awareness at the school level was identified as a crucial step toward building safer roads.

Media enables wider reach and engagement

Media participation helped amplify the message, encouraging dialogue and knowledge sharing among educators. Platforms like these allow stakeholders to exchange ideas and develop actionable strategies for safer road practices.

Schools recognised for road safety efforts

During the event, SIAM honoured schools for their outstanding contribution to promoting road safety awareness among students.

Top schools awarded for safety initiatives

Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi, was named School of the Year for 2025-26 for promoting road safety awareness. Mount Abu Public School, Rohini Sec-5, secured the first runner-up position, while Greenway Modern Senior Secondary School, Dilshad Garden, was recognised as the second runner-up.

These awards acknowledged the efforts of schools in building awareness not only among students but also within the wider community.