FIA and WIAA sharpen focus on road safety in India

The Western India Automobile Association (WIAA), in collaboration with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), is sharpening its focus on improving road safety in India, with a multi-pronged approach that spans education, infrastructure and policy advocacy.

1. Driver training programmes for private and commercial drivers
2. Campaigns to educate the youth on road safety
3. Automated heavy vehicle testing facility in Gandhidham

Leading this push is Nitin Dossa, executive chairman of the WIAA and the first Indian to serve as vice-president of the FIA Asia Pacific Region II (2021–2024). “India has the highest road fatalities in the world, and there are fundamental changes required if we want to reduce them,” says Dossa. “From educating the public to improving infrastructure and policies, there are many challenges ahead.” 

At the core of WIAA’s strategy is education. Recognising that many drivers lack proper training, the association runs driver training programmes for both private motorists and commercial operators. These focus on safe driving practices, road etiquette and accident prevention, combining classroom sessions with simulator training. The programme's stakeholders include Mumbai's traffic police and the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), whose drivers undergo refresher courses that include pre-training audits, performance assessments and behavioural reports.

WIAA is also conducting several campaigns to address other aspects of road safety. Free eye check-up camps have identified heavy vehicle drivers with poor vision, while awareness campaigns promote seatbelt use, helmet safety, speed management and the risks of drunk driving. Its recent initiatives in Mumbai schools and colleges go beyond helmet distribution, demonstrating proper usage and encouraging students to act as road safety ambassadors through programmes like ‘Heads Up’.

In a push to improve heavy vehicle safety, it is developing a fleet safety index that tracks driver behaviour, vehicle usage and compliance over time. At its truck inspection facility in Gandhidham, commercial vehicles undergo automated checks to meet Ministry of Road Transport and Highways norms. Here drivers also receive training in defensive driving, fatigue management and emergency response, while on-site rest areas make it a one-stop shop for operators.

The association also advocates the adoption of electric vehicles, carpooling and shared mobility solutions to reduce congestion and emissions. Infrastructure remains a key focus area. Working with government bodies and traffic authorities, WIAA is pushing for better-maintained roads, clearer signage, improved public transport networks and safer pedestrian infrastructure.

Through its partnership with the FIA, it is aiming for interventions that deliver not just immediate improvements, but sustained, long-term change in a country where road safety remains a critical concern.