Nagpur: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said the death of a close friend in a road accident in Amravati was a turning point and prodded him to work extensively on improving road safety in the country. Speaking at the Sadak Suraksha Abhiyaan 2026, Gadkari said the tragedy served as a wake-up call and inspired several initiatives aimed at reducing accidents and improving traffic discipline. In a conversation with Marathi actor Amey Wagh and national award-winning director Nipun Dharmadhikari, Gadkari recalled his student days at Nagpur University. He said that during election campaigns as a student leader, he and three friends often travelled together on a single vehicle due to limited resources. “That era was different. But I realised that amidst all the fun, one must also be sensible,” he said. The minister said lack of respect for traffic rules and the absence of fear of law remain among the biggest causes of road accidents in India. “Shortcuts cut you short — be it anywhere in life,” he said. He emphasised that minors should not be allowed to drive. “If a minor without a licence causes an accident, parents will be booked,” he said. The city MP criticised traffic violations such as speeding, jumping signals and ignoring road signage. “People sometimes treat the road like a circus,” he said. Highlighting safety concerns, Gadkari noted that around 50,000 deaths occur due to not wearing helmets and about 26,000 due to not wearing seatbelts. He urged people to follow basic precautions such as getting their eyesight checked regularly. “We have started around 350 driving schools. In the West, acquiring a licence is very tedious and requires serious study. Here, people look for shortcuts, and we are trying to curb that,” he said.Gadkari said he had once suggested replacing conventional vehicle horns with sounds of musical instruments to reduce noise pollution, but the idea was dropped after it was heavily trolled on social media. “Looking back, had the bill been passed, people would have been embroiled in music battles rather than focusing on driving,” he said on a lighter note. He also urged citizens to report potholes on highways through social media. “Tag me if you see a pothole. I have a team to act on it,” he said.
