In a major initiative aimed at addressing India’s road safety crisis and boosting employment, the government, in partnership with the automobile industry, will establish driving schools in 120 aspirational districts and 500 blocks identified as socially, economically, and educationally backward.The project aims to generate employment for over one crore youth across the country over the next five years.The initiative was announced during the ‘Sadak Suraksha Abhiyaan’, where Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and Bollywood actor Aamir Khan highlighted the urgent need for cultural and infrastructural changes to improve road safety.Gadkari also addressed the nation’s grim distinction of having the highest road accident fatalities globally, with over 1.8 lakh deaths each year. Shockingly, 66% of these fatalities involve individuals aged between 18 and 44.He pointed out that road accidents cost India 3 per cent of its GDP, but the true cost lies in the lives lost and families shattered by permanent injuries.According to the Road Accidents in India report published by the Government of India, a total of 7,01,572 road accidents occurred on National Highways between 2020 and 2024, resulting in 2,95,180 fatalities.The minister said to address road engineering flaws, the government was making efforts to identify ‘black spots’ and work was underway to improve these areas. He said the government had already invested Rs 40,000 crore in road safety measures.Gadkari said the government had introduced a Road Safety Bill and undertaken large-scale digitisation of systems, covering everything from the issuance of driving licences to overall transport operations. He added that more than 200 driving training centres have already been set up across the country, though India still faces a shortage of approximately 22 lakh drivers.He announced plans to expand driving training infrastructure in 120 aspirational districts and 500 aspirational blocks. In collaboration with major automobile companies, the government aims to create job opportunities for over 1 crore youth in the next five years, he said.Meanwhile, Khan said despite the temptation of empty roads late at night, he always follows traffic signals and speed limits.On a positive note, Gadkari also celebrated India’s remarkable progress in automobile engineering, with the industry growing from Rs 14 lakh crore to Rs 23 lakh crore, pushing India to the third spot globally, surpassing Japan. He said significant improvements had been made in recent years. He emphasised that India was on par with global standards in the sector.