MARGAO: In an effort to mitigate the high number of accidents occurring in South Goa, the traffic police have pinpointed numerous 'blind spots' that are particularly accident-prone. Proposals have been submitted to the relevant departments for infrastructural improvements, such as road widening, hot-mixing, installation of traffic signals, and the addition of speed breakers.
Sources from a Traffic Cell in South Goa indicated that the initiative follows a directive from the Traffic Department in Panjim, which called for the identification of accident-prone areas within the jurisdiction of each police station. Measures have been suggested to prevent accidents in these identified blind spots.
A recent police analysis on road accidents highlighted that a majority of accidents are due to rash and negligent driving, with mishaps on National Highways contributing significantly to the accident rate. Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable, with the majority of fatalities involving commuters on two-wheelers.
The study, conducted on accident statistics of 2023, revealed that cars accounted for 41.83 percent of accidents, while two-wheelers accounted for 40.50 percent. Accidents predominantly occurred during the day, with a significant portion happening on straight roads. Additionally, the analysis indicated that the highest number of accidents occurred between 7 pm and 8 pm, with Monday being the most accident-prone day (17.78 percent), followed by Sunday (15.37 percent).
In South Goa, the analysis found that Verna registered the highest number of bus accidents (14), followed by Vasco (9) and Ponda (8). Truck accidents were most frequent in Ponda (31), Maina-Curtorim (18), Canacona (15), Verna (13), and Cuncolim (10). For two-wheelers, Maina-Curtorim saw the highest number of accidents (145), followed by Ponda (113), Verna (111), and Fatorda (92) within the first ten months last year.
The police department has recommended strict enforcement and effective traffic control, calling for the presence of police personnel on National and State Highways, as well as other roads, to reduce accidents and fatalities. They have also suggested targeting major traffic offenders to reduce accidents, rather than focusing on minor traffic violations to increase the number of challans. Special drives in accident-prone zones are also proposed to curb accidents and enhance road safety.