The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) successfully hosted the first-ever Summit on Automotive Future advancement in road Safety (SaFar) at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The event, held alongside the Bharat Mobility Global expo 2025, focused on the theme: “United Efforts for road Safety: Safer roads, our responsibility.” bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts, the summit emphasized collaboration, innovation, and public engagement to enhance road safety in India.
Key Highlights from the SAFAR Summit
The summit opened with keynote addresses under the theme: “Driving a People-Centric Future: a Vision for Safer roads in India.” a major highlight was the unveiling of the SIAM “Surakshit Safar Initiative report (2025 2026),” launched by Chief Guest V Umashankar, Secretary, Ministry of road Transport & Highways. The report outlined SIAM’s key road safety initiatives for FY25.
Industry Leaders Share Road Safety Insights
Prashant K Banerjee, executive Director, SIAM, underscored the urgent need for enhanced two wheeler safety, given that they constitute 80% of India’s vehicle population.
V Umashankar introduced the RVb framework (road, Vehicle, and behaviour), emphasizing a holistic approach to tackling road safety challenges.
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.
Sanjay Bandopadhyaya, representing the Supreme Court Committee on road Safety, advocated reviving India’s cultural ethos of “Pehle aap” (putting others first) to foster a more courteous and safer road environment.
Shailesh Chandra, President, SIAM, highlighted the 4e model—education, enforcement, engineering, and emergency response—as a comprehensive strategy for improving road safety. Piyush Arora, SKODA Auto Volkswagen India, emphasized the impact of Bharat NCAP, India’s car safety program, in setting higher safety standards and increasing consumer awareness.
Kazuyoshi Kuroki, Honda Motor Co., stressed the importance of education, enforcement, and engineering in building a safer mobility ecosystem, calling for collective action from industry stakeholders and policymakers. Engaging Panel Discussions and Interactive Sessions
The SAFAR Summit featured two thought-provoking panel discussions:
“Saving Lives through education and enforcement” – Panelists explored strategies to boost road safety awareness and ensure compliance. K K Kapila advocated for integrating road safety education into school curricula to instill responsible driving behavior from an early age.
“The role of engineering, emergency Care, and evaluation” – experts discussed technology-driven solutions to reduce accidents. Dr. Tejprakash Sinha (WHO) emphasized the significance of zero-fatality corridors and robust emergency care systems to provide life-saving medical assistance. Interactive road Safety Initiatives
The summit also featured engaging awareness activities, including:
Road Safety awareness run – Over 1,200 participants advocated for responsible driving. Virtual reality (VR) experiences – Immersive lessons on safe driving practices and pedestrian behavior. Creative Contests – Poster making and street plays encouraged innovative approaches to spreading road safety awareness.