Maruti Suzuki India Limited has launched 'Jagriti', a five-day awareness programme for truck drivers employed by its logistics service providers. The event, running from March 23 to March 28, 2026, is being held simultaneously at two of the company's manufacturing facilities — in Manesar, Haryana, where sessions began on March 23, and in Hansalpur, Gujarat, where they commenced a day later on March 24. Around 4,000 drivers engaged in transporting finished vehicles and spare parts across the country are expected to participate over the course of the event.
The programme is structured around two broad areas: road safety education and preventive healthcare. On the road safety side, sessions cover defensive driving techniques, the hazards of overspeeding, the legal and physical consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol, and the critical importance of seatbelt use in reducing the severity of injuries during accidents. Organisers are also dedicating time to fatigue management, underlining the connection between adequate sleep and driver alertness — a factor frequently cited in studies on heavy vehicle accidents. Drivers will further receive practical guidance on conducting routine maintenance checks on their vehicles, with the aim of reducing the risk of mechanical failures on the road.
The health component of the event includes free preventive health check-ups and eye tests, along with access to medical consultations. Yoga and meditation sessions have also been incorporated, reflecting an acknowledgement that the mental well-being of drivers is as relevant to road safety as their technical knowledge. Long-haul truck drivers often work irregular hours, face social isolation, and deal with significant physical strain — conditions that can affect both their health and their performance behind the wheel.
Managing Director and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi said the nature of truck driving — involving long hours, large vehicles, and travel across diverse road conditions — made it essential for the company to regularly train drivers and reinforce safe practices. He described 'Jagriti' as a focused effort to address key risk factors that have a direct bearing on road safety outcomes for other road users as well.
Road safety remains a pressing concern in India. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the country recorded over 1.7 lakh road fatalities in 2022, placing it among the highest in the world for road accident deaths. Heavy vehicles, including trucks and trailers, are involved in a disproportionate share of fatal accidents, particularly on national highways. Fatigue, speeding, poor vehicle maintenance, and driving under the influence are consistently identified among the leading causes.
Against this backdrop, corporate-led interventions targeting commercial drivers have gained increasing relevance. While government programmes address road safety at a policy level, industry initiatives like 'Jagriti' are seen as complementary efforts that can reach specific groups of workers — particularly those operating within a company's extended supply chain — with tailored training and support.
Maruti Suzuki, India's largest passenger vehicle manufacturer by sales volume, has described the event as part of its broader sustainability agenda. The decision to extend the programme to workers employed not directly by the company but by its logistics partners reflects a wider shift in how large manufacturers are approaching supply chain responsibility. By bringing drivers to its own facilities for training and health support, the company signals a degree of accountability for the welfare and conduct of workers across its operations.
'Jagriti' is expected to conclude on March 28, with participants from both locations having completed the full cycle of safety and wellness sessions by the end of the event.