Elsa Angel Rose
“I have seen youngsters ride very rashly. They do not seem to care about endangering their lives or about other people on the road. It also occurs most at traffic signals daily,” said Ananya, a 22-year-old woman from Margao. With increasing access to vehicles at a young age, exposure to social media, and a culture that often blurs the line between freedom and responsibility, concerns around rash and unsafe driving are growing louder. For many parents, this is not just about traffic violations; it is about the safety of their children and others on the road. As accidents involving young drivers continue to surface, the conversation is shifting towards accountability, awareness, and the crucial role families and society play in shaping responsible behaviour behind the wheel.
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THE CHOICES SHAPING YOUNG DRIVERS IN GOA “Youngsters are mostly seen riding their bikes with a phone in one hand, distracted. Even older people have a habit of driving their cars with a phone in one hand, where they’re more focused on the phone rather than the road, which is a huge risk for other motorists,” shared Ananya. Even though many young riders want to brag about their driving skills on social media, it all comes back to how aware they are and their personality. “It really depends on the person, to be honest, (their personality) whether they care about their life and others, or they drive recklessly to show off their vehicle and feel thrill from driving rashly,” Ananya noted. “There are parents who take pride that their teenage son or daughter can ride a bike or drive a car without really understanding if they are mature enough to do so. Many parents feel that when their child has learned to drive, it means that they are independent and we don’t need to bother,” said Dr Priya De Sousa, a parent from Mapusa. Parents collectively agree on peer pressure as a factor for reckless driving among youngsters. “Peer pressure is a very big factor influencing teenagers today, and an equally contributing factor is social media. Everyone wants to show off their skills and post on social media just to get attention, which is deeply alarming in this generation,” said Dr Priya “My parents have always told me to be slow on the road and cautious, as it might not even be your fault, but you could end up in a mishap, so it’s always better to drive at a speed where you can control the vehicle in case something sudden happens. It’s always better to be safe rather than regretting it later, and you also don’t want to be the reason someone’s life is taken away,” said Ananya. Nobody knows the child better than the parent; hence, undoubtedly, it is on their shoulders to ensure that the child gets ample driving lessons and further guidance when they start driving. “Parents need to stop being dominant and try to be more of a friend to understand what’s really going on in their minds. The approach needs to change, then only our kids will open their thoughts and fears to us. What most of the parents lack today is the time and patience to understand a teenager, and often this results in rebellious behaviour, which might be presented in other ways, like rash driving or stunts while driving, and bad habits,” said Dr Priya. Learning from example is the best way to learn. “Parents need to first show by example of responsible driving and teach by practice. Support their children by participating in this process of learning driving, sharing driving etiquette and ethics,” said Tallulah. She emphasised following the law as the most important aspect as well. Tallulah said, “Never drive after drinking, and parents must lead by example by following the same rule. Encourage your children to call you if they feel even slightly intoxicated, and be ready to pick them up without hesitation. Friends, too, should look out for one another, staying alert, stepping in when needed, and ensuring everyone gets home safely” Safety must always come first.
PARTY CULTURE AND PEER PRESSURE Goa’s social environment sadly only exacerbates the crisis. The party culture, alcoholism, late-night drives, and rampant substance abuse among teenagers and young adults are a few major reasons, to state a few. “At times, parents are even unaware that minors are driving without licenses/helmets; hence, rash driving is common, and deaths of minors due to rash driving happen,” said Tallulah D’silva, another parent from Panjim. She added, “A significant number of road fatalities are linked to substance abuse, making responsible choices crucial.” Dr Priya reiterated the effect of social media on youngsters, leading them to drive rashly, sharing, “ Goa’s social environment might be a contributing factor. I personally feel that it’s the pressure of social media that is affecting the teenager’s behaviour, not only in Goa but everywhere else in the world.
