As election fever grips the coastal State of Goa, politicians across party lines are crying their lungs out making numerous promises. But there is no mention about road safety. The spate of road accidents in South Goa in last couple of days has brought the spotlight back on how vulnerable are Goenkars to road crashes.
Three fatal accidents have occurred killing five persons including two on-duty constables, in a span of less than 72 hours. The police department has now woken up and has deployed traffic police personnel on a one-week drive from Monday evening to zero in on serious traffic violators such as drunken drivers. But police every time wakes up after a spate of accidents and then goes back into a slumber.
Let us analyse the road accident scenario in Goa during the period of this current government from 2017-2020. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) report, 13,445 road accidents occurred in Goa between 2017 and 2020. Total accidents reported in 2017 were 3920, followed by 3710 in 2018, 3440 in 2019 and 2375 in 2020. Total injuries in 2017 were 1739, 1502 in 2018, 1460 in 2019 and 875 in 2020. As far as deaths are concerned, 334 people died due to road accidents in 2019, followed by 264 in 2018, 299 in 2019 and 224 in 2020. Total number of deaths registered under road accidents was 1121.
Every day on an average three people die, nearly 465 people get injured. Some injuries can cripple the accident victims for life. Imagine the trauma of these families. Lives are shattered forever. Parents lose their young child, a child gets orphaned, and spouses lose their partners. It is even more painful for families of accident victims who are alive but turn into a vegetable because of severe brain injuries. Caregivers of these victims are dying every moment seeing their loved ones in such terrible condition. Families become bankrupt while providing medical treatment to their kin in the money guzzling private corporate hospitals.
For State of just 16 lakh population, registering an average of three deaths every day is extremely shocking. It just points out towards the callous approach of the administration towards the safety of commuters. How can the administration allow blood on its hands in such a blatant way?
If we just look at the road condition, we will know the level of apathy from government officials. The Public Works Department (PWD), which is responsible for making and maintaining the roads in the State does not move an inch even as the potholes on Goa roads turn into craters. Most of our State’s roads don’t have functional streetlights, while in many places the sign boards are either missing or put up wrongly. There are no reflectors on roads which are abruptly dug up for any civic work. This makes these roads extremely hazardous for motorists, especially two-wheeler riders.
During monsoon, the situation is even worse as these potholes are filled with water and the two-wheelers become accident prone in these conditions. Abrupt signboards and flyovers are an example of how road accidents are invited in this State.
Otherwise, there is hardly any check on over-speeding vehicles, especially at nights. Drunken driving is another cause of accidents everywhere and needs to be checked. Along with these is the major issue of two-wheeler riders not wearing helmets. A very essential safety gear for riders and pillions alike, helmet is discarded like a waste material. Similar is the reluctance to fasten the seat belt while driving.
The lack of strict enforcement of traffic rules allow the traffic offenders to get away with minor offences. Later they get involved in major offences and by then lot of damage is already done.
It just takes an alert administration and a conscious society to avoid road accidents. In most cases, these casualties are avoidable. But the combination of corruption, negligence and lax attitude are together taking away innocent lives. The buck stops at the doorstep of every citizen – be it government officials, politicians or common citizens.
Road accidents don’t just kill or maim. They simply destroy lives forever. It is important that we all wake up to this disaster lest we leave behind a bloody trail and a broken society. With 2022 Assembly elections in Goa fast approaching, the civil society of this State must force the individual candidates and their parties to include road safety in their respective manifestoes. Enough of blood has been spilled on the roads. It is time to force the political leadership get its act together.
Let us together start Zero Accident Mission to prevent loss of lives.
