NGO, Carmel HSS Hold Road Safety Drive in Nuvem to Promote Helmet and Seat Belt Use

Road safety continues to be a pressing issue across Goa, especial ly in busy school zones where heavy traffic poses risks to pedestrians and young students. To ad dress these concerns, GO ACAN teamed up with the Consumer Welfare Club (CWC) of Carmel Higher Secondary School to or ganise a lively Road Safety Awareness Drive outside the school gate at Nuvem. This event forms part of GOACAN’s ongoing 11-day campaign to raise public awareness on safe driving practices. Around 50 students, ac companied by GOACAN vol unteers, took to the streets carrying colourful flags, placards, and banners. Their message was clear: wear ISI-certified helmets and seat belts to save lives. The students held up pow erful slogans such as “Slow Down, Save Lives,” “Reduce Speed, Stop Fatal Acci dents,” “Do Not Drink and Drive,” and “Respect the Pe destrian at the Zebra Cross ing.” These messages are especially important due to the school’s location on the busy NH-17 (old), where pedestrian safety is critical. During the campaign, the students noticed several wor rying trends—many young riders were seen operating two-wheelers without hel mets, and KTCL bus drivers often neglected to wear seat belts. They also pointed out that vital road signage, includ ing speed limits, school zone warnings, and clearly marked bus stops, were missing in the area, further endangering road users. The awareness drive was coordinated by GOA CAN’s Roland Martins and supported by Diana Maria Rodrigues e Coutinho, the CWC Coordinator at Car mel HSS. The event also had the backing of key traffic officials, including ASI Hiralal S Gaude and HC Sandesh L Gaonkar of the Margao Traffic Cell, along with MVI Percy Coutinho and AMVI Charles Faria from ADT Enforcement (South). To further the cause, Car mel HSS’s newly formed Road Safety Patrol (RSP) will continue educating students and teachers on critical state road safety schemes such as the Goa State Interim Compensa tion to Road Accident Vic tims, the Rah-Veer Good Samaritan Scheme, and the Compensation for Victims of Hit & Run Motor Acci dents Scheme, 2022, sup ported by informational displays within the school.