SIAM organizes first summit on road safety advancements

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) held its inaugural Summit on Automotive Future Advancement in Road Safety (SAFAR) on January 19, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The summit, themed "United Efforts for Road Safety: Safer Roads, Our Responsibility," was part of the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. The event aimed to bring together various stakeholders to address key challenges and explore strategies to improve road safety in India.

The summit opened with an address from Mr. V Umashankar, Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, who launched the “Surakshit Safar Initiative Report (2025-2026).” The report details SIAM's initiatives on road safety and highlights the importance of the RVB framework—Road, Vehicle, and Behaviour—in reducing accidents. Mr. Umashankar emphasized the critical role of road engineering, advanced vehicle safety features, and driver education in improving safety outcomes.

Mr. Prashant K. Banerjee, Executive Director of SIAM, noted the urgency of addressing road safety, particularly in light of the high vulnerability of two-wheeler users, who make up 80% of India's annual vehicle population. He stressed the importance of the auto industry’s role in contributing to safer roads.

The event also featured insights from industry leaders. Mr. Shailesh Chandra, President of SIAM, called for adherence to the 4E model—Education, Enforcement, Engineering, and Emergency—stating that technology advancements and collaborations are essential for reducing road fatalities. Mr. Piyush Arora from SKODA AUTO Volkswagen India expressed support for Bharat NCAP, a government initiative aimed at improving vehicle safety standards in India.

The summit’s first panel focused on improving road safety through education and enforcement strategies, with contributions from industry experts who discussed the need for affordable safety technologies and enhanced public awareness. Panelists also highlighted the role of early education on road safety, particularly for children, to promote responsible behavior.

The second panel addressed the engineering and emergency care aspects of road safety, emphasizing the need for better road infrastructure, vehicle engineering, and emergency response systems. Experts also discussed the importance of leveraging data analytics and AI technologies to enhance safety measures and predict accident hotspots.

In addition to the discussions, the summit included a series of interactive activities aimed at raising awareness, such as the “Road Safety Awareness Run” with over 1,200 students participating. The event featured an interactive pavilion, showcasing VR games, simulators, and vehicle models to educate attendees on road safety. Students also participated in competitions like poster-making and street plays focused on road safety themes.

SAFAR 2025 is part of ongoing efforts to make India’s roads safer through a coordinated approach that involves multiple sectors, from government bodies to the automotive industry and the public. The summit served as a platform to share insights, promote collaboration, and encourage the adoption of advanced safety technologies and practices.