Road Safety Conclave 2026 concludes with focus on youth-led awareness, behavioural change

The conclave concluded with a collective pledge by participants to follow traffic rules and spread awareness, reinforcing the message of “Safe Roads, Safe India” as part of the broader Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

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New Delhi: The Road Safety Conclave 2026, organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, brought together policymakers, educators, and civil society to strengthen India’s road safety ecosystem and promote responsible mobility practices among the youth.Held at Vivekanand School in Anand Vihar, the event saw participation from nearly 4,000 students from Classes III to XII and over 500 teachers representing around 100 schools, reflecting growing grassroots engagement on road safety issues.Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways and Corporate Affairs, Harsh Malhotra, who attended as chief guest, highlighted the government’s focus on integrating safety with infrastructure development. He noted that India’s National Highway network has expanded to around 146,000 km, among the largest globally, with increasing emphasis on safety measures.Key focus areas

The conclave placed strong emphasis on students as change-makers, with activities such as poster-making, nukkad natak, role plays, panel discussions, and innovation challenges designed to encourage awareness and community-level engagement. Participants were encouraged to act as “Road Safety Ambassadors” in their localities.Malhotra reiterated the government’s 4E strategy—Engineering, Enforcement, Education, and Emergency Care—to reduce road fatalities and move towards a zero-fatality vision. He also highlighted initiatives such as the PM Rahat scheme, which provides cashless treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh for accident victims, along with strengthened emergency response systems and infrastructure upgrades.The event underscored the importance of behavioural change alongside enforcement, urging citizens to adopt safe practices such as wearing helmets and seat belts and avoiding distractions while driving.

The conclave concluded with a collective pledge by participants to follow traffic rules and spread awareness, reinforcing the message of “Safe Roads, Safe India” as part of the broader Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.