Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers hosted the Annual Principals’ Meet 2026 in collaboration with Delhi Traffic Police, Yamaha Motor India Pvt. Ltd., and Hindustan Times, bringing together school leaders to strengthen the role of education in promoting responsible road behaviour.
Held under the theme “Bridging the Gap: Connecting Road Awareness with Education,” the event is part of SIAM’s ‘सुरक्षित सफर (Safe Journey)’ initiative. The programme aims to integrate road safety awareness into school education, encouraging students to develop responsible habits from an early age. More than 400 school principals from across Delhi-NCR participated, reflecting a strong collective commitment to safer roads.
Addressing the gathering, Prashant Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, highlighted that while India has adopted advanced vehicle safety technologies, road accidents continue to rise due to behavioural factors. He emphasised that education plays a critical role in instilling discipline, responsibility, and awareness—qualities essential for safer road usage. He also noted that SIAM’s collaboration with educational institutions has already reached over one lakh students through structured road safety programmes.
Sanjay Bandopadhyaya, Member of the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety, Government of India, stressed that fatalities are often linked to non-compliance with basic safety measures such as helmet and seatbelt use, along with over-speeding. He underlined that early education can shape responsible citizens who influence not only their own behaviour but also that of their families. According to him, a combined approach of enforcement and education offers the most effective path to reducing accidents.
Vijayanta Arya, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Delhi, pointed out that while enforcement acts as a deterrent, long-term change depends on awareness and informed decision-making. Schools, she noted, are central to building this foundation. Industry participation also reinforced the importance of early intervention. S Kumar of Yamaha Motor India highlighted the need to instil road safety values at the school level, ensuring they translate into lifelong habits.
During the event, SIAM recognised schools for their contributions to road safety awareness. Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, was named School of the Year (2025–26), with Mount Abu Public School and Greenway Modern Senior Secondary School acknowledged as runners-up. Aligned with the Government of India’s road safety vision, SIAM continues to promote responsible mobility through sustained engagement with schools, industry, and public institutions.
