Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has concluded the second annual edition of its Toyota Safety Education Programme (TSEP) in Bangalore. The initiative, titled “Road Safety – My Right, My Responsibility,” aims to instil responsible road behaviour among schoolchildren, fostering awareness at an early age.
Expanding Road Safety Awareness
India records over 1,50,000 road fatalities annually, with traffic accidents being the leading cause of death among those aged 5-29. Addressing this crisis, TKM launched TSEP in 2007, integrating road safety education into school curriculums. The programme follows a “Child to Community” approach, empowering over 800,000 students nationwide to become advocates for road safety.
This year’s programme concluded in Bangalore and Delhi, with Mumbai set to be the next city to host the initiative. The upcoming annual event on 11 February 2025 aims to engage 70,000 students and 600 teachers across 140 schools.
A Holistic Approach to Road Safety
TSEP aligns with TKM’s “Real World Safety” philosophy, focusing on vehicle safety, user education, and traffic environment improvements. The programme employs an ABC approach:
- Awareness: Educating students on road safety rules.
- Behavioural Change: Encouraging responsible road habits.
- Campaigns: Engaging students through interactive activities.
The initiative also establishes Road Safety Clubs in participating schools, ensuring sustained engagement through peer-to-peer learning and community-driven campaigns.
Interactive Learning and Student Engagement
At the Bangalore event, students showcased their understanding of road safety through poster-making, skits, songs, and video presentations. Their creative participation reinforced the programme’s impact in making road safety education engaging and memorable.
An award ceremony recognised students, teachers, and schools for their contributions in promoting road safety awareness. The programme’s effectiveness was highlighted by improved awareness levels among participants.
Commitment to Safer Roads
Anil Kumar from the Bangalore traffic police department emphasised the role of early education in shaping responsible road users. He noted that empowering schoolchildren to lead safety initiatives within their families and communities has a lasting impact.
Sudeep Dalvi, Chief Communication Officer and Senior Vice President at TKM, reiterated the company’s commitment to road safety beyond manufacturing safer vehicles. He highlighted Toyota’s broader goal of achieving zero road fatalities by instilling a culture of responsible road behaviour.
Since 2001, TKM has been involved in various community initiatives across education, environment, road safety, skill development, health, hygiene, and disaster management. Through these efforts, the company has positively impacted over 2.3 million lives.
As TSEP continues to expand, TKM remains dedicated to building a future where road safety awareness is deeply ingrained in society.
