Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Daman Collector Makes Thar, Fortuner Owners Take Safety Oath
Daman officials held a road-safety event for people who own Mahindra Thar and Toyota Fortuner vehicles.
The owners stood near their vehicles and took a safety pledge.
They promised not to speed, race, drift, perform stunts, or drive after drinking alcohol.
They also promised not to make certain unauthorized changes to their vehicles.
The District Collector said these vehicles should make people feel safe, not afraid.
He asked owners to help women and take injured people to hospitals when possible.
The campaign was also meant to challenge the image of Thars being used for reckless or intimidating driving.
Officials said people who drive dangerously or use unauthorized modifications could face legal action.
Daman Collector Saurabh Mishra asked Mahindra Thar and Toyota Fortuner owners to pledge safe and responsible driving.
Owners vowed not to speed, drive negligently, race, drift, perform stunts, or drive while intoxicated.
They also pledged to avoid unauthorized modifications, unnecessary honking, and violations of traffic rules.
Mishra said Thars should be associated with helping women and accident victims, not “bhaigiri” or “mafiagiri.”
The campaign followed criticism of a reported Thar rally in Daman involving tinted windows, modified silencers, and traffic congestion.
- Who
- Daman District Collector Saurabh Mishra, police officials, and owners and drivers of Mahindra Thar and Toyota Fortuner vehicles.
- What
- A road-safety campaign in which SUV owners lined up, carried safety placards, and took a road-safety oath.
- When
- Wednesday evening, September 9; the article also refers to a related Thar rally on August 27 and comments made in November 2025.
- Where
- Daman, in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
- Why
- To discourage speeding, dangerous driving, stunts, unauthorized vehicle modifications, and the association of Thars with “bhaigiri” or “mafiagiri.”
Officials’ Safety Message
Public Criticism and Vehicle Image
Meaning associated with Thars
Officials’ Safety Message
Officials said Thar owners should use their vehicles responsibly, help women and accident victims, and make roads feel safer.
Public Criticism and Vehicle Image
The vehicles, particularly the Thar, have been linked in popular perception and social-media videos with speeding, swerving, drifting, and an intimidating image.
Vehicle modifications and rallies
Officials’ Safety Message
The administration told owners to remove unauthorized tints, modified tyres, silencers, lights, and sound systems, and warned of legal action.
Public Criticism and Vehicle Image
Sources cited in the article said a rally of more than 100 black Thars reportedly had tinted windows and modified silencers, creating major traffic congestion and drawing criticism.
Evidence about vehicle type
Officials’ Safety Message
Officials used the campaign to address concerns about reckless driving associated with Thars and Fortuners.
Public Criticism and Vehicle Image
The article notes that no major Indian study links the Thar or another SUV to rash-driving incidence, and National Crime Records Bureau accident data does not list vehicle type.
- Organizer
- Daman district administration
- Vehicles involved
- Mahindra Thar and Toyota Fortuner SUVs
- Pledge commitments
- No speeding, negligent driving, racing, drifting, stunts, or driving while intoxicated
- Modifications addressed
- Unauthorized tints, tyres, silencers, lights, sound systems, and other vehicle changes
- Collector’s appeal
- Saurabh Mishra asked owners to promote the message and tag Anand Mahindra
- Possible enforcement
- Deputy Collector Priyanshu Singh said strict legal action would be taken against dangerous “bhaigiri” and “mafiagiri”
- Related rally
- Sources cited by the article said more than 100 black Thars joined a Daman rally on August 27, causing traffic congestion