Government Initiative Aims to Boost Driver Training and Road Safety

Government, Industry Partner to Create One Crore Driver Jobs Through New Driving Schools​

New Delhi, March 26 – The Indian government, in collaboration with industry stakeholders, is launching a nationwide initiative to establish driving training centers in 120 aspirational districts and 500 aspirational blocks. The project aims to create one crore jobs for young people over the next five years.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced the plan during a Sadak Suraksha Abhiyan event, highlighting a significant shortage of drivers within the country. Currently, 200 driving schools operate nationwide.

According to Minister Gadkari, India faces a driver deficit of 22 lakh individuals. The new initiative seeks to address this gap by establishing training centers in underserved regions.

Road safety remains a key concern, with India currently recording over five lakh road accidents and 1.8 lakh fatalities annually. The government estimates that three percent of the country’s GDP is lost due to these incidents.

Gadkari identified five primary factors contributing to road accidents: road design and engineering, landslides in hilly areas, automobile engineering, enforcement of regulations, and human behavior. He noted that the government has invested Rs 40,000 crore to eliminate identified “black spots,” and has improved approximately 280 landslide-prone areas.

The automotive industry, currently ranked third globally with a turnover of Rs 23 lakh crore (following the US at Rs 79 lakh crore and China at Rs 49 lakh crore), is slated for significant growth. The government’s goal is to elevate India’s automotive industry to the top position in the world within the next five years.

Minister Gadkari emphasized the importance of stricter enforcement and highlighted the potential impact of simple safety measures, such as helmet usage, which could save approximately 50,000 lives, and seat belt use, which could prevent around 30,000 deaths. He noted a decrease in instances of drunk driving.

Aamir Khan, who attended the event, expressed his commitment to road safety and acknowledged the need for widespread awareness and adherence to safety regulations. He stressed that while government policies and infrastructure improvements are crucial, ultimately, individual behavior is paramount to achieving safer roads. Khan pointed out that helmet usage is often driven by fear of police enforcement and urged a shift in mindset towards recognizing the life-saving benefits of these safety measures. He also raised concerns about the use of clips to circumvent seat belt requirements, suggesting mandatory seat belt use for children in school buses.