Lights, camera, safety: Sirmaur’s unique road safety initiative hits big screen

In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Himachal Pradesh, the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) of Sirmaur district has made it mandatory for all cinema halls in the district to screen road safety awareness videos before the start of every movie. The move is aimed at sensitising the public, especially vehicle owners and drivers, about essential safety measures and traffic regulations in hill and mountainous regions.

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Under this initiative, informative videos highlighting the importance of cautious driving on hilly terrain and strict adherence to traffic norms are being screened not just once, but three times during each movie show — before the film starts, during the interval and after the end of the film. These videos use a mix of audio and visual content to communicate life-saving messages in an engaging and impactful manner.

The Sirmaur Transport Department reached out to local cinema hall owners, urging them to support this awareness campaign by dedicating screen time to public safety. In a positive response, the cinema operators agreed to the proposal and have now begun regular screenings of road safety content across all shows daily.

“This initiative is part of our broader mission to promote a culture of responsible driving, especially in a hilly district like Sirmaur where road safety is paramount,” said Sona Chauhan, RTO Sirmaur. “We believe that mass media, particularly cinema, is a powerful tool to reach a wide audience and influence behaviour positively.”

The road safety videos emphasise key aspects such as maintaining speed limits on curves and slopes, avoiding overtaking in blind spots, ensuring vehicle fitness before travel, use of seat belts, helmet safety and the dangers of drunk or distracted driving. They also demonstrate, through visuals, how adherence to these precautions can prevent accidents and save lives.

The campaign is being seen as a model initiative and is drawing attention from transport authorities in other districts. It reflects a proactive approach by the Sirmaur administration to integrate public awareness with popular entertainment platforms to enhance civic responsibility.

The district administration has expressed its intent to continue and expand the initiative with newer and more relatable content, including videos in local dialects and stories based on real incidents from the region.

With cinema remaining a popular source of entertainment across age groups and communities, the regular exposure to such vital safety messages is expected to foster long-term behavioural change and help reduce road accidents in the region. This initiative not only marks a significant step towards safer roads in Sirmaur but also sets a precedent for the rest of the state to follow.