Patna: A large road safety awareness campaign is being carried out across Bihar, covering more than 77,000 schools and educational institutions. The programme, organised by the state transport department and the Bihar Road Safety Council, aims to teach students, teachers, staff and drivers about traffic rules and safe behaviour on the roads. Speaking at the Road Safety Campaign 2026 event in Patna, transport minister Shravan Kumar said that 77,926 institutions have already been covered and that the campaign will continue in the coming months.
The minister said road safety should become a daily habit and not remain limited to National Road Safety Month, which is observed every year from 1 January to 31 January. He said that in the 2025–26 financial year, more than 447,000 challans were issued for traffic violations such as not wearing helmets and seatbelts. During the special awareness month, around 1,800 drivers underwent eye examinations and spectacles were distributed to those who needed them. The government has now decided to make eye tests compulsory for all government, private and school vehicle drivers, and health certificates will be issued after the tests.
The transport department also reported record figures in vehicle-related services. In a single month, around 140,000 vehicles were registered and 83,000 driving licences were issued. The minister said Bihar is moving forward with reforms in the transport sector. For the first time, women drivers will operate pink buses in the state. Six Mahadalit women were given appointment letters to drive heavy motor vehicles at the event, marking a step towards greater inclusion in public transport jobs.
Transport department secretary Raj Kumar said the government is focusing on awareness along with strict enforcement. Private bus drivers in all districts will receive training every Saturday. He also appealed to young people not to perform dangerous stunts on the roads for short-term excitement, warning that such actions can lead to serious accidents. Five Good Samaritans who helped road accident victims were honoured with Rs 25,000 each, along with certificates and mementoes. The programme also included road safety demonstrations for schoolchildren, a pledge to follow traffic rules and emergency response training by the State Disaster Response Force.
