Driving test candidates turn first aid and CPR trainees at Hyderabad RTA

Hundreds of persons who arrived for their driving tests at the Dr. Babu Jagjivan Ram driving test track in Nagole on Thursday (January 8, 2026) morning found themselves seated for an unexpected lesson, a first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) awareness programme aimed at saving lives on the road. Participants watched as doctors demonstrated first aid and CPR on human-shaped mannequins, closely observing each step and then performed the life-saving procedure.

The initiative, organised by the Nagole Regional Transport Authority (RTA) in collaboration with Kamineni Hospitals, is part of the 37th National Road Safety Month being observed from January 1 to January 31, 2026. The objective, officials said, is to equip ordinary citizens with basic life-saving skills that could prove crucial in the minutes following a road accident.

According to Sheethal, Motor Vehicles Inspector with the Nagole RTA, what was earlier a week-long awareness drive has now been expanded into a month-long campaign in response to the rising number of road accidents. “Road accidents continue to be a major concern. The idea is to ensure that at least some people at accident sites knows basic first aid and CPR, so that lives can be saved before medical help arrives,” she said.

Telangana recorded nearly 6,499 deaths due to road accidents in 2025, with the toll increasing each year. Citing the road accident in Mokila on Thursday morning, in which four students were killed and another was critically injured, Joint Transport Commissioner of Telangana, C. Ramesh, appealed to citizens to step in to assist accident victims and improve road safety.

Many of those attending the programme on Thursday were young men and women driving test candidates. While some were asked to participate before their test, others were told to join after completing it. “I am attending this for the first time. I came in the morning and after my driving test, I was told to sit for the programme and that my documents would be handed over later,” said one attendee, clutching his rolled-up papers, a sight repeated across the venue.

Officials said the driving tests were temporarily paused so that more candidates take part in the awareness session. The waiting area was converted into a makeshift pavilion, complete with an LED screen displaying instructions, while CPR and first aid demonstrations were conducted outside using mannequins.

Assistant Motor Vehicles Inspector Sai Karthik addressed a common fear among citizens — the hesitation to help accident victims due to legal concerns. “Anyone assisting an accident victim has the right to choose whether they want to be an eyewitness or not. They can help and still keep their personal details confidential. If they do choose to be eyewitnesses, the law mandates that they be treated with respect and even rewarded,” he explained.

Officials also cautioned the public about what they described as ‘seasonal contributors’ to road accidents. Fog during early mornings and the presence of Chinese manja on roads these days were cited as growing hazards that continue to compromise road safety.