The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) organized the “सुरक्षित सफर” (Safe Journey) Pavilion during the Bharat Mobility Global Expo (BMGE) 2024 in association with mobility solution provider, Rosmerta, from 1st – 3rd February at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. SIAM has undertaken a Road Safety initiative – “सुरक्षित सफर” (Safe Journey) – to address the issue of rising road accidents in India, emphasize the importance of the 4Es: Education, Enforcement, Engineering, and Emergency Care, and focus on raising awareness about road safety among the visitors.

To further this noble cause among the attendees of the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024 (BMGE 2024), many OEM leaders like Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), Ashok Leyland, Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, and Eicher Motors registered their participation at the pavilion. It also witnessed a plethora of visitors, including students, vehicle users, automotive manufacturers, component manufacturers, road furniture manufacturers, emergency care givers, state institution employees, and enforcers. Multiple road safety stakeholders like GARC, Natrax, ARAI, ASDC, JP Research, IHIF, and ICAT also highlighted the exceptional work executed by them.

The pavilion offered multiple avenues of attraction and knowledge transfer, such as simulators, competitions, street plays, road safety awareness installations, CPR training, and free health check-ups for all participants. SIAM’s “सुरक्षित सफर” (Safe Journey) Pavilion also had panels displaying various facets of road safety through the 4Es of road safety: Enforcement, Engineering, Education, and Emergency Care.

SIAM also organized the “Run for Road Safety” initiative at the pavilion during the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024. This initiative aimed to instill responsible road behavior and promote road safety consciousness among young minds. The event was flagged off by Anurag Jain, Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, along with Vinod Aggarwal, President of SIAM and MD & CEO of VE Commercial Vehicles.

Over 1200 school children from various schools enthusiastically participated in this initiative, learning about traffic rules and the importance of respecting road regulations to contribute to making India the safest nation globally. School students also participated in a road safety-related street play and learned about the life-saving CPR technique organized by SIAM. These students also visited SIAM’s “सुरक्षित सफर” (Safe Journey) Pavilion and learned about the importance of road safety through multiple attractive avenues.

Anurag Jain, Hon’ble Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, said, “Children have to be aware of the dos and don’ts on the road. They can bring about greater learning amongst adults on good road safety practices.” He also interacted with students and explained to them the importance of road safety. He then encouraged students to learn about road safety which can make a significant difference and save lives.

Further, Vinod Aggarwal, President of SIAM, emphasized the importance of promoting road safety behaviors in young minds and the pivotal role of educating people about traffic rules. He said,” SIAM and the Indian auto industry have been committed to improving the road safety scenario in the country. The ‘Run for Safety’ initiative, specifically designed for school students, seeks to instill valuable life lessons on responsibility and respect for others’ rights, ensuring that every child grows up to be a responsible and law-abiding citizen. Teaching road safety to school students is not just about rules; it’s an investment in a future where responsible choices pave the way for safer journeys.”

Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, also visited the सुरक्षित सफर (Safe Journey) Pavilion. The Minister acknowledged the efforts put in place by SIAM, and praised SIAM for aligning its सुरक्षित सफर (Safe Journey) initiative with the government’s mission of building road safety awareness for general masses. The Minister also encouraged SIAM to create many such pavilions in the future in key cities of India.

SIAM, in collaboration with its members, actively works towards elevating road safety consciousness throughout India. With substantial support from stakeholders, SIAM has become a pivotal force in ensuring road safety and safeguarding lives. The organization firmly believes in the power of education to instill responsible road behavior from an early age and propagate road safety knowledge within the community.