The government will partner with industry to open driving training centres in 120 aspirational districts and 500 backward blocks, aiming to create one crore jobs over the next five years, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said at a Sadak Suraksha Abhiyan event in Delhi during a conversation with actor Aamir Khan.
Highlighting a shortage of 22 lakh drivers, Gadkari noted that 200 driving schools have already been set up and more centres will expand employment opportunities for youth in underserved regions.
On road safety, he said India records over five lakh accidents and 1.8 lakh deaths annually, with 66% of victims aged 18–44, leading to a loss of about 3% of GDP.
He identified five major causes of accidents: poor road design, automobile engineering issues, weak enforcement, human behaviour, and environmental factors like landslides. The government has spent ₹40,000 crore to fix accident-prone black spots and improved 280 of 350 identified landslide zones.
Gadkari emphasized that simple measures like wearing helmets and seat belts could save tens of thousands of lives each year, adding that lack of respect for traffic laws remains a major concern.
Aamir Khan stressed personal responsibility in road safety, saying rules alone are not enough unless people follow them. He urged citizens to adopt safe practices willingly rather than out of fear of enforcement, and suggested making seat belts mandatory for children in school buses.