TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The high rate of accidents on Goan roads is a completely different league. Leave alone showing any signs of stopping, blood is being spilled on the roads in accidents with the ab average of more than one death per day
What is of serious concern is that most of these accident victims are young people in their prime of life.
It has been reported that in the last 15 days from April 1 to 15, an unbelievable figure of 100 accidents has been reported in Goa. Two more deaths in a fatal accident at Mungul, Fatorda and Monday took the death toll on Goan roads in the last 15 days to 19.
While fatalities continue, the people suffering from permanent deformities in accidents has also increased. This have resulted in fear and anxiety among road users. The situation is such it is difficult to say whether a breadwinner, who leaves for work in the morning, will return home by evening.
The statistics of accidents are even more scary over the last three and half months of the year 2024. From January 1, 2024 as astounding number of 852 accidents have occurred in Goa in the last 105 days in which 99 people lost their lives. In addition to the deaths 130 persons suffered grievous injuries and 276 persons have suffered minor injuries in the accidents that were recorded till April 15.
April 9 was the most worrisome day after four person died in road accidents that happened across Goa. The death of six-month-old child in a road accident at Usgao has triggered a lot of anger and helplessness among people.
Goa is a popular tourist destination, known for its nightlife. Increased tourist traffic especially rent-a-car vehicles on the road, create a scenario or potential for higher likelihood of accidents.
To add to this the Goa's infrastructure is unable to cope with the increasing number of vehicles on its roads. At places the roads are poorly maintained. Poor road alignment, lack of proper signage and inadequate lighting can also contribute to accidents.
Human factors such as reckless driving, over speeding, drunk driving, and disregard for traffic rules are significant contributors to accidents everywhere, including Goa.
Lastly inadequate enforcement of traffic rules and lack of traffic police and police patrolling can embolden drivers to flout regulations, leading to a higher incidence of accidents.
