TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Road accidents in Goa claimed 79 lives in the first three months of 2014 that include 49 two-wheeler riders among the victims, retaining Goa’s tag of ‘killer state’.
Compared to 2013, there is considerable rise in the total number of deaths though there has been a decline in the number of accidents. Transport department statistics from January 1 to March 31, 2014 show 1,143 accidents involving 1,860 vehicles which resulted in 79 deaths including 49 two-wheeler riders, 14 pedestrians and four pillion riders. There were total 852 two-wheelers involved in these accidents.
Last year, during the same period, the Department recorded 1,164 accidents involving 1,875 vehicles including 753 motorcycles. Total numbers of deaths were 58 of which 28 were of two-wheeler riders, 15 pedestrians and three pillion riders.
In the first quarter of 2014, 78 fatal accidents were reported as against 56 in 2013. There was, however, decline in number of serious accidents from 91 in 2013 to 57 in 2014.
The vehicle population in the State has crossed 10 lakh with addition of 70,990 vehicles for the financial year 2013-14.
“Increasing number of accidents is a matter of concern as the situation is going out of control,” director transport Arun Desai admitted while speaking to media persons. Desai announced that department would launch extensive enforcement drive from May 10 onwards to keep tight vigil over those riding or driving in violation of Motor Vehicle Act.
During the drive, enforcement officials would crackdown on those riding without helmets and in a rash and negligent manner. Also, those with fancy number plates and cars with tinted glasses would also be dealt with.
Desai has warned that vehicles found with fancy number plates and tinted glasses would be fined upto Rs 2,000 for the first offence under section 192 (1) of the Central Motor Vehicle Act. “For the successive offence, a fine of Rs 5,000 and three months imprisonment would be imposed,” he said adding that so far the violators were punished under the general offence, where they were fined Rs 100.
The vehicle population in the State has crossed 10 lakh with addition of 70,990 vehicles in 2013-14.
