Professionalism in Driver Training Systems, November 15 -16 , 2002 - Goa, India

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The vehicle driver is the key component of the road traffic system. Road Accident research all over the world has pointed towards drivers fault in majority of road crashes. There is, however, variants in the levels of quality of driving, as witnessed in different regions of world. For improving levels of road safety, efforts towards adopting professionalism in driver training system, have shown to yield fruitful results in developed countries.

A two day conference on professionalism in Driver Training system was organized by the IRTE - first of its kind in India. IRTE organized the conference with the support of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, Department for Transport, United Kingdom, Austrian Road Safety Board, Government of Goa and Royal Society for Prevention on Accident (RoSPA) , United Kingdom. 

The Conference aimed at facilitating training and development of drivers, while maintaining basic norms observed by international traffic authorities. To increase the level of road safety, various techniques like interactive learning, sharing of innovative ideas and best practices were demonstrated. This would help minimize fatal errors and wastage of funds, in re-invention of existent systems. 

It was decided at the Conference deliberation would culminate in a GOA DECLARATION that would try to set out a common vision and the goal that were needed to create safer road environment. It was also agreed that following positioning statement would set the tone of conference " A drving license is a privilege that has to be earned". 

Held on November 15th and 16th , 2002 at hotel Cidade de ,Goa , Panaji, Goa. The conference was attended by 170 participants, across the world. Participants included policy makers fro the central and state governments, officials from the traffic police and transport department, driver training and research institutions, scientists, automobile manufacturers and associations, OIL, insurance industries and he media.

- The conference was divided into six sections, namely,
- Drivers Training needs and its Scope
- Systems and Methods of Training and Assessment 
- Training and Assessment of Trainers
- Instructors and Licensing Authorities
- Training : Role of Government, Private Sector , Automobile Manufacturers, NGO
- The Indian Scenario : Role of Insurance Companies, Alcohol and Drug Addiction (Open Forum)
- International scenario-inter-global support -Innovation and Best Practices.

Each Session has eminent speakers and was chaired by leaders in their respective field. The recommendations of these sessions were summarized by respective chairman and went on to drafting of the Goa Declaration, to which, there were 170 signatories.

Mr. Digamber Kamat, Minister of Power and Development, Government of Goa, inaugurated by conference in the august presence of Mr. Pandurang Madkaikar (Transport Minister, Government of Goa) , Mr. Ajay Maken (Minister of Transport and Power, Government of Delhi) and representatives of the transport ministries of UK and Austria and RoSPA.

Mr. Shripad Naik, Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India graced the Valedictory session as the Chief Guest.