“When I turned 18, I joined a driving school, excited about getting my license. I expected to learn everything about driving, road rules, and the Motor Vehicles Act. But the reality was disappointing. The training focused on just completing the course, not teaching us how to drive safely or follow traffic rules. That experience stayed with me and made me think: how can we expect safer roads if people aren’t taught the basics? That’s where my journey in road safety began.
In 2021, I joined the Hyderabad Traffic Police as a Traffic Volunteer under the Hyderabad City Security Council (HCSC). HCSC works in a public-private partnership model with various forums, including one for traffic. We’re called Traffic Farishteys. Before starting, I attended Road Safety and Basic Life Support Training, and soon after, I began volunteering on the ground.
Over time, I took on a leadership role in the volunteering group. While many joined initially, only about 10-15 of us are active now across Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and Rachakonda. Together, we’ve led several campaigns, starting with the basics: educating people about wearing helmets properly (not just placing them on their heads but strapping them securely), using seatbelts for everyone in the car, stopping before the stop line, avoiding honking, and maintaining lane discipline.
One of the campaigns I’m particularly proud of is S.A.F.E. (Seatbelts Are For Everyone). Many people think seatbelts are only for the driver, but they’re for everyone in the vehicle. Another important initiative was the stop line campaign, where we educated drivers about the importance of stopping behind the designated line at traffic signals.
While most of my work happens at Mozam Jahi Market Junction, where I manage traffic and organize campaigns, I’ve also collaborated with like-minded road safety activists. I met Harsha from Team Road Squad and Naresh Raghavan from Top Driver India through social media. Naresh is an expert in road safety and has written India’s first driving manuals, recognized by the RTA and Hyderabad Traffic Police. Together, we formed a WhatsApp group called Road Safety Volunteers. This group became a platform where we planned campaigns, shared ideas, and supported each other.
Our collaboration goes beyond campaigns. For example, Naresh’s manuals helped us create scientifically backed campaigns, and Harsha brought his expertise in using social media for awareness. Recently, we worked together on a No Honking Campaign at Secunderabad’s Raithifile Junction and a High Beam Awareness Drive to reduce accidents caused by blinding lights at night.
We’ve also relied on innovative methods, like Mega Mic Campaigns, to communicate effectively in congested areas. Whether it’s teaching people to follow free left rules or addressing lane discipline, we’ve tried to cover all aspects of road safety.
For me, politeness is key. People are more willing to listen if we approach them respectfully. Over the years, I’ve seen small but significant changes—more people wearing seatbelts, stopping behind the line, and understanding why these rules matter.
Hyderabad’s roads still have challenges, but there’s progress. Our efforts through social media have caught the attention of top officials, and we’ve been invited to meetings to present our ideas. It feels good to know that our voices are being heard.
Looking ahead, I’ve planned interactive road safety sessions for 2025-26. These will cover critical topics and target schools, corporates, and other organizations. The idea is to make traffic education engaging and impactful, creating a culture of responsibility and safety on our roads.
When I look back, I feel proud of what we’ve accomplished. My friends and family constantly encourage me, and that keeps me going.”
- Lokendra Singh, Traffic Educator