The government is planning a major push on employment and road safety, with the opening of driving schools in 120 aspirational districts and 500 backward blocks over the next five years. The move, announced by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday, is expected to generate one crore jobs.

Speaking at a Sadak Suraksha Abhiyan event with actor Aamir Khan, Gadkari highlighted India’s shortage of 22 lakh drivers. “We have already opened 200 driving schools. With industry support, we will train youth in socially, economically, and educationally backward areas and provide employment to one crore people,” he said.

On road safety, Gadkari sounded a warning: India tops the world in road accidents, recording over five lakh accidents and 1.8 lakh deaths every year. Young people are the worst affected, with 66% of victims aged 18–44. Road accidents also cost India about 3% of its GDP annually.

He listed five main reasons for accidents:

• Road design and engineering – Black spots and landslide-prone areas are being addressed with ₹40,000 crore spent so far.
• Automobile engineering – India’s auto industry, with a turnover of ₹23 lakh crore, ranks third globally. Gadkari aims to make it the top in five years.
• Enforcement – Poor law enforcement contributes to accidents.
• Human behaviour – “About 50,000 lives could be saved if riders wore helmets, and 30,000 if seat belts were used,” Gadkari said.
• Drunk driving – Cases have come down but remain a concern.

Aamir Khan urged people to take road safety seriously. “Laws and rules matter, but ultimately it’s people following them that saves lives,” he said, stressing that helmets and seat belts are lifesaving even without police presence. He also recommended mandatory seat belts for children in school buses.

This initiative comes amid rising focus on road safety and employment generation in India’s socially and economically backward regions.

(With inputs from agencies)