27th SAFE Annual Convention in Gandhinagar Focuses on Collaborative Road Safety
- Bilkul Online
- Ahmedabad | 18 Sept 2026
The Society for Automotive Fitness & Environment (SAFE), an initiative of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), hosted its 27th SAFE Annual Convention in Gandhinagar under the ‘Safe Journey (सुरक्षित सफर)’ initiative. Organised in association with the Transport Department and Gujarat Road Safety Authority, Government of Gujarat, the convention brought together policymakers, automobile industry representatives and road safety experts to discuss responsible road use, stronger safety practices and collaborative approaches to safer mobility.
The convention was themed ‘Safe Journey: A Collective Journey Towards Safety with Responsibility’. Gujarat Minister of State for Forests and Environment, Climate Change and Transport, Pravin Gordhanji Mali, emphasised the importance of awareness, responsible behaviour and civic sense alongside technology in improving road safety. Other speakers highlighted the need for innovative solutions, greater attention to vulnerable road users and coordinated efforts among stakeholders.
The inaugural session, ‘A Systems Approach to Road Safety in India,’ featured the launch of the SIAM-SAFE context paper, ‘Analysing India’s Imperatives for Road Safety’. The Minister also launched the HMSI–Gujarat Road Safety Authority Road Safety Project in Ahmedabad and the NID–Gujarat Road Safety Authority Road Safety Awareness Project in Gandhinagar. Twelve Road Safety Warriors from Gujarat were also recognised for their contributions to road safety.
The event also featured a Sustainable Mobility Expo, showcasing 10 vehicles from leading automobile manufacturers, along with a VECV eye check-up van. The participating companies included Hero MotoCorp, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, TVS, Mahindra & Mahindra, Skoda, Ashok Leyland/Switch, Maruti Suzuki India and VE Commercial Vehicles. The exhibits covered two-wheelers, three-wheelers, passenger cars and commercial vehicles, highlighting developments in sustainable mobility and safety.
Discussions at the convention focused on data-driven enforcement, accountability, education, engineering, emergency care and evaluation. A fireside chat titled ‘5Es, One Mission: Safer Roads, Safer Lives’ examined the future of road safety, while another thematic session explored behavioural education, technology and design interventions for safer roads.
The convention also underlined the role of data and artificial intelligence in enforcement and road-safety planning. Gujarat officials and industry representatives discussed the need to translate road-safety dialogue into practical projects, stronger partnerships and measurable improvements.
SIAM reiterated its continued engagement with policymakers, industry and other stakeholders to promote safer, cleaner and sustainable mobility, including the adoption of new technologies, alternative fuels, responsible road use and sustainable practices.
