Two women were killed and another was seriously injured in a major accident involving a truck, rickshaw and a two-wheeler near Mandrem village panchayat on Saturday.
The victims have been identified as Priyanka Kharbe (29) and her sister-in-law Sanika Kharbe (19) while Siddhi Shetkar, who was seriously injured has been admitted to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Bambolim for treatment. Siddhi is the younger sister of Priyanka.
According to the police, all three occupants were travelling on a two-wheeler and on reaching near Mandrem village panchayat, their vehicle collided from behind a goods-carrier rickshaw due to sudden brakes applied by the rickshaw driver. With the collision, the occupants fell on the road and they were hit by a truck that was also proceeding in the same direction.
Goa continues to grapple with the tragedy of fatalities from road accidents, with 165 people being killed in the first six months of the year. In the corresponding period last year, 164 people died in accidents.
According to police data, from January to June this year, 1,387 accidents were reported, whereas 1,477 accidents occurred during the corresponding period in 2023. Twenty-two pedestrians died in road accidents till June this year. What is of concern is that nearly half the fatal accidents involve two-wheelers.
After every tragedy, the government assures strict measures against road accidents. Despite assurances, it is now evident that neither the central government nor the State government has any road map to curb this menace of road accidents.
Meanwhile, Goa continues to witness the scourge of high-speeding vehicles and non-compliance with traffic rules. These incidents raise questions about the government’s commitment towards addressing safety concerns at accident-prone junctions.
There has to be a crackdown on reckless driving, which is only adding to the menace. There are too many gaps in the system, which the NGOs and media have been highlighting, but the government seems to be in a state of permanent slumber.
The first concern is the issuing of driving licences. There has been a long-pending demand to regulate the way people are getting the licences now. The driving schools have become agents. But nothing seems to be happening. Moreover, the driving tests conducted by the RTO are archaic as they provide no evaluation of the driver’s real-life driving skills and behaviour.
The vehicular population in the State has increased, but barring the national highways, the condition of the rest of the roads in Goa is poor. Almost every arterial road in Panjim has been dug, leaving the capital in a mess. Moreover, the illumination around these sites is missing.
But, blaming the administration alone is not enough. The vehicle users are also equally responsible for the accidents by not adhering to safety norms. Overspeeding, drunken driving, lane-cutting, not showing indicators, jumping the red signal, not wearing helmets, not fastening seat belts, using mobile phone while driving, driving/riding sans a valid licence – are some of the key concerns.
Another point of concern is the deaths of two-wheeler riders for not wearing helmets. From January 2021 to December 2023, a total of 541 persons on two-wheelers lost their lives, of which 357 (66%), were helmetless at the time of the accident. The data reveals the startling figure that every three days, a helmetless rider dies somewhere on a Goan road.
The government has to push for strengthening the public transport system to take the automobiles off the road and reduce the vehicle load. This is the best possible way to reduce blood bath on Goa's roads, caused by road crashes.
Also, there have to be curbs on the easy availability of liquor. It is appalling that maximum tourists consider Goa as a liquor and party destination. Unless there is a complete image makeover of the State and strict control over liquor availability, the accidents won’t stop.
The best way to prevent accidents and loss of innocent lives is to create road safety awareness amongst parents and teachers. Also, awareness programmes should be held at panchayat-level.
Just like there is no one factor responsible for fatal road accidents, there is no quick-fix solution available to stop the menace. This requires detailed planning, meticulous execution and a strong-willed administration.
Crackdown on traffic rule violators is a must. It is time to fasten the belt and get going behind the rogue elements on the roads. When will we realise the need to drive/ride safely on the roads? Already the road conditions in the State are pitiable. The poorly engineered roads pose a high risk to the safety of commuters. On top of it, unsafe driving practices only add to the risk factor.
Accident prevention is a collective responsibility. Unless there’s a social consciousness for road safety, we will continue to lose innocent lives. Every fatal accident or crippling injury, leaves homes broken for life. We have to stand up to this menace.