SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
In that period they booked over 4300 traffic rule violations, an extremely high number, which indicates the magnitude of the problem in the State. Very interestingly, as the special drive began, the instructions to the policeman on the ground was that they should ignore all calls from ‘contacts’ of those who have been caught violating traffic rule and go ahead and issue challans for traffic violation. This is an excellent direction to be given, but at the same time it does reveal that the traffic police on the field are susceptible to listening to influential persons and ignoring misdemeanour allowing the motorists to go free, without any fine or action being taken. Can this directive be for always rather than only for a brief period? And will the policeman or policewoman on the field really ignore the calls from influential persons?
So, for the duration of the drive the police did get strict in penalising traffic offenders, what happens after this period has ended? The traffic situation in the State calls a long-term solution and one has to consider the immediate implementation of the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act 2019, which in Goa has been deferred far too many times. The implementation, with the high fines should act as a deterrent to motorists and get them to very strictly follow the rules. The amended Act was to be brought into force in September 2019, but is now scheduled to be implemented in April this year, 30 months later, making Goa one of the last States to enforce it.
In April last year, after the amendments had been notified, opposition MLAs had criticised the move demanding that the implementation of the amended Act be kept on hold as the fines were too steep and that the State’s roads were not all motorable. When the amendments were first to be implemented in September 2019 these were the very reasons given to put them on hold, so it implies that 18 months later there had been no improvement on the condition of the roads. However, where possible the Transport Department has reduced the penalty amounts, following the lead set by some of the other States, where too it was found that the penalties were stringent.
The opposition to the implementation of the amended act also brings up the question of why is there resistance to increasing fines for breaking of laws. Is it only after there is a spate of accidents that the need is felt to be strict with motorists, and then forgotten immediately after? For that Goa may need more than just the implementation of the amended Act to reduce accidents.
An education campaign, as suggested by GOACAN, on the rules related to over speeding and drunken driving could also help, but the time has perhaps come for making the issue of driving licences stricter and ensuring that the applicant for a driving licence is well aware of the penal provisions related to speeding and drunk driving. Incidentally, one aim of the amended Act is to bring about an improved road culture in the people and education would be part of it.
But not all accidents are caused by rash and negligence of the motorists. Bad road engineering and potholed roads are causes and it is the responsibility of the government to improve the road conditions. The responsibility has to be shared by the government and the condition of the roads improved. If better roads reduce accidents, that is another gain from having pleasurable roads to drive on.
