Yamaha Celebrates Drivers Day to Recognize the Contribution of their Commercial Drivers

India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd (IYM), one of the leading two-wheeler manufacturers in India celebrated the ‘Drivers Day’ to recognize the contribution of the drivers in the growth of the company. Drivers Day is a cause that dedicates a day to every commercial driver all over India enabling them to celebrate and take pride in their profession.

During the event, several road safety related engagement activities were organized including skit play, drawing competition and quiz competition for the participating drivers. Prize distribution ceremony was also held for the winning participants. The senior management of the company provided their full support towards the initiative and emphasized on the need to ensure security, dignity and respect for the drivers in the country.

IYM has been conducting a flagship program to train the Indian truck drivers under a special initiative titled – Yamaha Drivers Safety Training (YDST). The company has partnered with Chola MS Risk Services to conduct YDST and extend its commitment to road safety initiatives. Through this program, the heavy vehicle drivers undergo various practical as well as classroom training sessions conducted by road safety experts. Yamaha has trained more than 1100 drivers from 34 national transporters over the last twenty months. Under the YDST program, 135 training sessions were conducted in 2014 wherein 800 drivers were trained through skit play, internal training, and defensive training and movie sessions. In the current year till August, 80 sessions have been conducted and more than 300 drivers have been provided with the safety training.

YDST aims to reduce accidents on highways caused by unsafe truck driving and contribute to safer roads. The program has made Yamaha achieve drastic reduction in accident ratio of the fleet of trucks carrying the vehicles.

Special stress management workshops and driving skill testing games are integrated within the program to improve the mental alertness of the drivers. Also, innovative engagement building tools like Skit Play and Feature Films are used to make the program engaging for the drivers. They are also trained in physical methods of ensuring vehicle, personal and pedestrian safety. Special sessions are also conducted at the onset of summer, monsoon and winter seasons to educate drivers about meeting challenges during harsh weather conditions like heavy rains or fog.

IYM focuses on building road safety awareness as one of its key Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. Apart from the YDST program, IYM currently conducts Yamaha Family Safety Program (YFSP) for families and Yamaha Children Safety Program (YCSP) for school kids.

About India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd.:

Yamaha Motor made its initial foray into India in 1985. In August 2001, it became a 100% subsidiary of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd, Japan (YMC). In 2008, Mitsui & Co., Ltd. entered into an agreement with YMC to become a joint-investor in the company India Yamaha Motor Private Limited (IYM). IYM's manufacturing facilities comprise of 3 plants at Surajpur (Uttar Pradesh), Faridabad (Haryana) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu). The infrastructure at these plants supports production of two-wheelers and parts for the domestic as well as overseas markets.

IYM is highly customer-driven and has a countrywide network of over 1,300 customer touch-points including 400 dealers. Presently, its product portfolio includes YZF-R3 (321cc), YZF-R15 Ver 2.0 (150cc), Fazer (153cc), Fazer FI Ver 2.0 (149cc), FZ-S (153cc), FZ-S FI Ver 2.0 (149 cc), FZ (153cc), FZ FI Ver 2.0 (149 cc), SZ-RR Ver 2.0 (149 cc), Saluto (125cc), Crux (106cc) and Scooters Ray (113cc), Ray Z (113cc), Alpha (113 cc) and Fascino (113cc). Its import portfolio includes VMAX (1,679cc), YZF-R1M (998cc), YZF-R1 (998cc) and FZ1 (998cc).