Mobility

The "Improving Driving Behaviour in India" symposium, held on 22nd February 2025 at IIIT Hyderabad, brought together a diverse group of law enforcement officials, industry experts, researchers, and representatives from NGOs to explore innovative solutions for enhancing road safety across the country. The event underscored the pivotal role of technology and early education in fostering safer driving practices, with a focus on reducing road accidents and improving overall driving behaviour. Through discussions on the latest advancements in monitoring systems and effective driver education strategies, the symposium aimed to pave the way for a future where safer roads and improved driving habits are the standard in India.

The symposium brought together a distinguished panel of speakers, comprising experts from academia (NIT Calicut), industry (Uber India, Social-Impact, GMR Group, International Road Safety Consultant), law enforcement (IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police, Cyberabad), as well as an author and coach, alongside representatives from prominent NGOs (PHFI and RoadMarc). The event was attended by more than 30 participants.

Session 1 “Public Health/Emergency Care/NGO” was chaired by Dr. Aftab Hussain from IIIT Hyderabad.

Dr. Shailaja Tetali from PHFI (iRASTE Telangana) discussed the critical role of active bleeding control (ABC) in preventing fatalities during road accidents. She explained how immediate action to stop blood loss can dramatically improve survival rates in such emergencies.

Dr. Raju Wagh from RoadMarc Foundation (iRASTE Nagpur) shared insights from the iRASTE project, which has been implemented in Nagpur to reduce accidents through advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). This initiative has already resulted in a 40% reduction in accidents in both Telangana and Nagpur.

Naresh Raghavan, a road safety author and coach, emphasized the importance of mandating driving education for license applicants before they can obtain a driving license. His talk stressed that proper training is crucial in improving road safety and driver behaviour across the country.

Dr. Yogeshwar Vijayakumar from NIT Calicut (Road Safety Educator) discussed road safety education and the need for systematic programs that promote safer driving habits. He highlighted how awareness campaigns and hands-on education can make a significant difference in reducing traffic-related fatalities.

Session 2 “Government/Law Enforcement/Keynote Speech” was chaired by Dr. Shailaja Tetali from PHFI.

Prof. C.V. Jawahar, Dean of R&D at IIIT Hyderabad, welcomed Mr. Joel Davis, IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police, Cyberabad, to the stage to share his insights.

Mr. Joel Davis, IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police, Cyberabad, shared how the Cyberabad Police is integrating advanced technology into their traffic monitoring efforts. From high-rise cameras in IT corridors to exploring drone cameras and intelligent traffic systems, Mr. Davis highlighted how these technologies play a vital role in managing traffic and maintaining discipline on the roads.

Session 3 “Industry/Startup Initiatives” was chaired by Dr. Ganesh Yalla from IHub-Data, IIIT Hyderabad.

Mr. Deepak Basrani, Safety Operations Manager at Uber India, discussed how Uber’s Trust and Safety team uses real-time feedback to assess and improve driver behaviour. He explained how Uber encourages safer driving practices by actively monitoring and providing feedback to drivers.

Mr. Sameer Gautam, CEO of Social-Impact at Traffic Rewards, shared an innovative approach to promoting better driving. He explained how Traffic Rewards uses radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors on commercial buses to track driver compliance with traffic rules, such as stopping at red lights. Good drivers are then rewarded, reinforcing positive driving habits.

Mr. Krishnan Srinivasan, an International Road Safety Consultant, provided valuable insights on road safety initiatives worldwide. He shared successful case studies and discussed best practices that could be implemented in India to improve overall road safety.

Ms. Bharathi Kode from GMR Group talked about GMRVLF, the CSR initiative of GMR Group, which focuses on educating government school students about road safety. She emphasized that early education about road discipline can play a key role in preventing accidents in the long term.

Session 4 Session 4 “Panel Discussion” was chaired by Mr. Govind Krishnan from INAI, IIIT Hyderabad.

The panel discussion on "The Need of the Hour to Bring About a Change in Driving Behavior through Education" featured Dr. Mukti Advani (CRRI), Dr. Kavitha Vemuri (IIIT Hyderabad), Dr. Maryam Kaveshgar (Ahmedabad University), Mr. Praveen Garimella (ISB Hyderabad), and Mr. Lokendra Singh (hydtrafficman).