Enrolment For Maruti's Driving Training Initiatives Crosses 3 Million

Besides managing six IDTRs, Maruti Suzuki also provides state-of-the-art driving simulators and training vehicles, and develops instructors to impart quality training.

Institute of Driving and Traffic Research

Mr Mahesh Rajoria, Assistant Vice President, Driving and Training, Maruti Suzuki India said, "We are happy that our driving training initiatives, which started in the year 2000, have now reached the landmark of 3 million enrolments. Road safety is a critical issue for India, and requires a multi-pronged approach including licensing, enforcement, road design, vehicle standards and trauma care. Research and data analysis can help us decide the correct way forward. Government data shows that over 70% road accidents are caused by driver fault. Given this, and the poor quality of driving training infrastructure in India, Maruti Suzuki focuses on setting up world class driving training infrastructure and impart education in safe driving."

A summary of Maruti Suzuki's driving training initiatives in India:

1. Maruti Suzuki Driving Schools (MDS): These driving schools set up in partnership with Maruti Suzuki's dealer partners and are equipped with advanced driving simulators to create on-road driving situations and offer a mix of classroom and practical training by trained instructors, including women.

Currently over 360 Maruti Driving Schools are operational across the country.

Maruti Suzuki Driving School

2. Institute of Driving and Traffic Research (IDTR): Set up in collaboration with state governments, IDTRs are equipped with scientifically engineered training and testing tracks of international standards, state-of-the-art driving simulators, and well maintained vehicles. While the MDS focuses on personal car driving, the IDTR additionally trains drivers for commercial driving including trucks, buses and other heavy motor vehicles and taxi & three-wheelers. Maruti Suzuki manages 6 IDTRs, 2 each in Haryana, and Delhi NCR, and one each in Uttarakhand and Gujarat.

3. Training to fleet drivers of trucks and trailers: In addition to the driving training through IDTR and MDS, Maruti Suzuki imparts training to the fleet drivers of trucks and trailers that take away finished vehicles to the dealers.

4. Road Safety Knowledge Centres (RSKC): 10 Road Safety Knowledge Centres (RSKC) have been established in partnership with Haryana Transport Department and Haryana Police. Through this facility, the company helps local police in traffic management by way of training. Special modules are designed for traffic offenders and licence seekers at the RSKC centres.