It is not just the lady in the red car, post 12 a.m, intoxicated, who drives down the wrong side. There are plenty of folks doing it in the city of Panaji, on all days, at all a.m’s and p.m’s, in every type of vehicle. Each in a different form of intoxication. Whether it be the 18th June Road, or the Atmaram Borkar Road or the Corte de Oiteiro, or near the Geeta bakery close to the traffic headquarters or any other place, it goes on every day – over short distances, and even long ones……
What goes behind the mind of people taking the “no-entry” route knowingly, I fail to understand – for some it is saving on time? For some it is saving on fuel? Or the wear and tear of the vehicle? Or just sheer pleasure, or non-chalance? Lured on by the fact that one does it regularly, nothing happens, has become a way of life, cops don’t catch (where are they anyway)? And it happens across the board – all ages, both sexes, tough characters, and even the seemingly meek ones. I always keep wondering (because a lot of this going through the no-entry business happens below our home balcony), “aren’t they worried that will be caught [there is no cop almost none of the time]? That they could bang into someone? That someone could get injured? That they themselves could get injured – possibly fatally? Damage to their vehicle? Loss of money and time?”
And there are so many cases every day – especially the tourists and many who are not so used to Panjim – who get into a no-entry route because they are not alert enough, or because they could not spot the non-entry sign/s. Either because they are too enthralled in negotiating the haglling and jostling highly unregulated traffic, blaring of horns and mouth furies, or the no-entry signs are inappropriately placed, or just on one side, or at wrong heights, or obliterated with trees, weather and age, beyond quick, sensible recognition.
The responsibility for not defining every lane/road, whether it is a one-way or two- way, and erecting appropriate sign-boards, at the correct height and position, and maintaining them that way, lies with the authorities – whether it is the CCP, the Traffic Cell, or whoever……and not having done this for the past many years is an indication of either ignorance, carelessness, indifference, lack of concern and care, or simply helplessness. Is there any other reason?
Sorting out which is a one-way and which is not, and putting up appropriate, and properly positioned signages will help in greatly reducing the accident risk in the city and also assist to discipline the city traffic to some extent at least…..may the authorities please wake up and implement ….after all it is not a big ask!
