Need to usher in new driving culture in Keralam, says Chief Minister

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, actor Mammooty, Higher Education Minister Roji M. John, and Transport Minister C.P. John at the inauguration of Jeeva-Suyathra Mission, a road safety initiative, in Kochi on November 15. | Photo Credit: H. VIBHU

There is a need to usher in a new driving culture in Keralam at any cost, considering the dangerously high number of accidents occurring in the State over the past many years, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said here on Sunday (November 15).

Speaking after the State-level inauguration of the Jeeva-Suyathra Mission here, he issued directions to the Motor Vehicles department (MVD) and the police to deal with traffic and road safety violations with a stern hand, irrespective of the status of rule-breakers, for the coming six months. The results, in the form of a lower number of accidents, will begin to show in subsequent months. No official must heed to excuses or attempts to influence them, he said.

On the agonising life of road accident victims and their family members, Mr. Satheesan said tens of thousands of people, which is many times the number of accident fatalities in Keralam, remain bed-ridden for life. Drawing a stark contrast between how the same set of people from Keralam drive here and in West Asia, he said countries there impose hefty penalties and also imprisonment on rule violators. This certainty of punishment is thus a deterrent for rule violators.

He exhorted enforcement personnel to behave courteously but in a stern manner with those who compromise on road safety. Pedestrian safety too must be ensured at any cost, the Chief Minister said.

The Kerala State Road Safety Mission is spearheading the Jeeva-Suyathra Mission.

In his address, actor Mammootty, who is the brand ambassador of the Jeeva-Suyathra Mission and an automobile enthusiast, exhorted motorists to end overspeeding and rash driving, as even a moment’s carelessness could turn fatal on the roads. Instead, one must leave home early enough. Likewise, the timetable of buses must be revised, considering the increasing congestion on roads, he said.

“The casual way in which people conduct themselves on roads and in public spaces must end, for which awareness must be created at the school level. On their part, pedestrians must make optimal use of footpaths. They must reclaim footpaths and pavements so that encroachers and others do not occupy them,” Mr. Mammootty said.

Speaking on the occasion, Transport Minister C.P. John voiced concern over the alarming number of nearly 4,000 road accident deaths each year in the State. The number ought to be halved in another couple of years. There are countries in Europe that record just 200 accident deaths per one crore people each year. This ought to work out to just over 600 deaths in the case of Keralam. While Keralam has bettered countries in Europe on many counts, especially as regards health, a similar reduction in the number of accidents is possible. Stating that the motto of enforcement agencies is to ‘Enlighten and Enforce’, he said the mission is to wipe away the tears of accident victims and their family members.

Sharmila Mary Joseph, Principal Secretary (Transport), said that at 445 vehicles per 1,000 people, Keralam has over four times the number of vehicles than the national average. Most of the 3,800 deaths each year in 50,000 accidents are due to bad driving habits, she said. The others who spoke included Traffic and Road Safety Commissioner Satish Bino and Transport Commissioner Sparjan Kumar.

The function also saw the release of a teaser on road safety, in which Mammootty and other actors remind motorists that there are people waiting back home for their safe return. A trainers’ road safety handbook too was released.

Published - November 15, 2026 08:38 pm IST