PORVORIM: “Every death due to road accident pains me,” Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the State Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, assuring to reduce the number of accidental deaths by 30-40 percent in next five years.
Remedial counseling for frequent traffic offenders, strict enforcement on usage of helmets and special action plan, are some of the measures the State government proposes to introduce to curb road accident deaths.
With an increasing number of police officers involved in traffic violations, Parrikar also announced dismissal of police personnel violating traffic rules.
Speaking during the calling attention motion on road accidental deaths moved by Congress MLA Pratapsingh Rane, the Chief Minister said the number of fatalities has witnessed a sharp rise but the figures are almost constant. In 2015, there were 311 deaths reported and the number went up to 336 in 2016, he said adding the figures are playing within 350.
“Every death pains me but I find nothing special in the number. They are almost constant,” Parrikar told the House. He said that for the current year up to April 30, a total of 109 fatal accidents have been reported, while the number was 105 in 2016.
Parrikar said that of the accidental deaths reported last year, one third of the persons died in self accidents. “There is lot of rash and negligent driving resulting in self accidents and deaths. Last year of the total 336 deaths, 96 people died in self accidents,” he said.
“There is need to strengthen enforcement on usage of helmet. Not wearing of helmet is one of the causes for deaths amongst motorcyclists,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that in 2016, a total of 8160 cases were sent to Transport Department for suspension of driving licences, which involved 353 cases of drivers involved in serious and fatal accidents. “Total 566 licenses were suspended for that year,” he said.
In 2017 till April 30, a total of 1208 cases were referred for suspension of driving licences. Of these, 192 licences were suspended in the first three months of the year.
As per the reply tabled on the Floor of the House, traffic police have identified 58 accident prone zones – 27 in North and 31 in South Goa – and have forwarded a proposal to PWD to undertake necessary road improvements. “Likewise, after analysing the accident data for last three years, that is from 2014-2016, a total of 37 black spots have been identified,” Parrikar said.
Since 2011-12 to 2016-17, atotal 1,12,171 challans were issued to traffic violators with a fine of Rs 1.24 lakh.
