SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: A sense of fear has gripped the commuters in South Goa after nine fatal accidents recorded in past eight days, raising serious questions pertaining to the status of road safety in Goa.
Speaking to Herald several citizens, including social activists have appealed to commuters to follow the traffic rules. Further, Director General of Police I D Shukla also expressed concern over the death on roads these days, and that too in tragic accidents.
A day before police constable Shailesh Gaonkar and Indian Reserve Battalion Vishwas Deykar died in road accident at Seraulim while doing patrolling. Later a couple named Kennedy D'Costa and his wife Noella D'Costa died on the spot at Gandhi road, Maina-Curtorim, which was also during the wee hours.
The death of two young policemen has left the families in a state of shock. While the child of Kennedy and Noella has been orphaned.
It has been revealed that almost all the fatal accidents were due to rash driving and drunken driving.
Simon Barretto, a resident of Maina-Curtorim said that the rising number of accidents is due to lack of strict action against errant drivers.
"The horrific road fatalities over the weekend should be an eye opener for the people of Goa. The families of these two car drivers need to realise the destruction their kin have caused,” said Roland Martins, Coordinator GOACAN.
He further said many car drivers have still not understood the implications of the provisions of the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act 2019 as there is a belief that the rules will be implemented only on April 1, 2022.
"GOACAN will write to the Transport Secretary Dr. Tariq Thomas to launch a special public education campaign on the rules related to over speeding and drunken driving. They should be made aware of the harsh punishments that await serious traffic offenders, including jail term,” he added.
DGP I D Shukla is on record that the police will enforce the rules in letter and spirit against the traffic violators. He was reacting to the deaths of two policemen at Seraulim.
Former Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco expressed shock over the tragic accident reported at Maina-Curtorim killing a young couple who were in their thirties.
"Strict action should be taken against the car driver, who was allegedly driving under the influence of drugs,'' he said.
He further said that being a local representative he will not allow the issue to get hushed up by authorities.
"Police have to check for driving under the influence of alcohol. The accidents are being repeated due to drunken driving, and it is the fault of the police. Such accidents wouldn’t have recurred if the police had taken timely actions against drunken driving," Reginaldo alleged.
