It’s the monsoons now and besides the washed roads and trees, nothing else has changed significantly. To be more specific, I am referring to the driving on Goan roads.
Just the other day, I noticed a man driving a car. Something not extraordinary, but on closer observation, I noticed he had a child of not more than 4 years sitting on his lap between himself and the steering wheel without a seat belt. The child was probably steering the car at times. And we call ourselves parents.
What is even more outrageous are people driving on 2 lane roads. The reason those 2 lanes exist is so that slower cars driving at 40 kmph and below can move to the outer lane and faster cars over 40 kmph drive on the inside lane. But apparently, some drivers believe driving slow with the dividing line running straight under their car, proves they are good drivers. Even after constant honking and flashing of lights, they continue to prove their superhuman feat of refusing others to overtake safely.
Mobile phones are another great way to prove your outstanding driving capabilities. People blatantly talk on their phones while driving and if you overtake them with a glare, you receive a smile back. Goan hospitality at it’s very best. Another point worth mentioning is the huge amounts of money spent on cars and bikes. People buy expensive vehicles costing over Rs 4-5 lakhs and those vehicles come equipped with indicators. But why would you purchase a Rs 26 lakh vehicle and not use the indicators? Wouldn’t it be more sensible requesting the manufacturer to remove the indicators and reduce the price? I mean, why spend money on items on the vehicle which are of no use to you? Similarly, you can refuse the low beam lights and get a rebate on the price. Or, you can even do away with the rear view mirrors and get a substantial discount. After all, we Indians have one sole purpose in life, save money.
Goa is fortunate to have good roads barring a few here and there. As compared to other states in India, Goan roads are a haven for driving. Note, I did not use the word “race track”, as is the case on the Margao-Colva road leading to the Colva Beach. This stretch is a testing track for people wishing to drive fast cars. They race at break-neck speed, ignorant to the fact that there are multiple residential complexes lined on either side of the road. This is not the example we want to set for the next generation. From what I’ve noticed, the worst drivers are delivery vehicle drivers, truck drivers, bus drivers and a few taxi drivers and the one thing they all have in common, is absence of common sense and road decency. This can only be taught and comes from within. Who educates these people? Are they road worthy enough to be given licenses? Overtaking rashly and blindly and driving through a puddle whilst spraying pedestrians is absence of common sense and road etiquette.
All the above would easily attract fines of US$ 200-500, suspension of licenses or even imprisonment abroad. We have so many foreign tourists coming to Goa and I’m sure junkets abroad by MLAs or politicians are unnecessary, if we can only learn a lesson or two from these tourists. Why not let others spend money on our education rather than the other way around? We have a young and impressionable generation in our midst. Let’s set examples for them where they can lift their head up someday in the future and say “My parents taught me how to REALLY drive”.
