Strengthening its long-standing focus on road safety awareness, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), under its flagship “सुरक्षित सफर (Safe Journey)” programme, has introduced the National Road Accident Reduction Challenge 2026. The nationwide initiative is aimed at motivating undergraduate students to create practical and implementable ideas that can help improve road safety outcomes across India.
By positioning college students as agents of change, SIAM seeks to tap into their creativity, problem-solving abilities, and leadership potential to address critical road safety issues. The challenge is designed to inspire responsibility-driven innovation while supporting the national objective of lowering road accident-related injuries and fatalities.
Speaking on the launch, Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, said that India continues to witness a high number of road accident fatalities every day. He emphasised that young citizens can play a vital role in transforming road behaviour and safety practices. According to him, the challenge provides a structured platform for students to convert ideas into actionable solutions that can make a measurable difference on Indian roads.
Commenting on Suzuki Motorcycle India’s association with the initiative, Mr. Devashish Handa, Executive Officer, SMIPL, stated that road safety remains a core component of the company’s CSR agenda. He highlighted the importance of student-driven ideas in promoting responsible mobility and noted that the challenge would help instil strong road safety values while encouraging interventions that can be applied in real-world conditions.
The competition is open to undergraduate students from recognised institutions across the country. Participants may form teams of two to four members, with faculty or institutional support. Submissions are invited across multiple focus areas, including user-focused safety solutions, technology-led interventions, infrastructure enhancements, and enforcement or evaluation mechanisms. Teams are required to submit a 15–20 slide presentation supported by research, field studies, pilots, prototypes, or stakeholder interactions. An optional two-minute video or demonstration may also be included.
The deadline for nominations is 15 January 2026, while final project submissions must be completed by 1 March 2026. Registration can be completed by scanning the QR code provided in the official announcement.
Shortlisted teams will present their concepts before a national jury comprising representatives from SIAM, automobile manufacturers, transport authorities, non-government organisations, and the media. The winning team will be awarded a cash prize of ₹2.50 lakh and honoured at SIAM’s SAFE Annual Convention 2026. Aligned with its vision of Building the Nation Responsibly, SIAM and its member companies continue to collaborate with government bodies and other stakeholders to promote safer, cleaner, and more sustainable mobility solutions across India.
The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) is the apex industry body representing leading vehicle and engine manufacturers in India. Registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, SIAM works to support the growth of the Indian automobile industry while encouraging responsible practices. Its focus areas include environmental improvement, road safety, and the protection of vehicle users and the general public. SIAM is also recognised as a charitable institution under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
