Perhaps more than issues which affect Goa and Goans badly and destroy our beloved land, one which needs to be tackled vigorously, with utmost urgency and ought to worry us immensely is that of unnatural deaths, particularly those occurring on our roads and which are mostly easily avoidable, if we are cautious and show a little more love, respect and concern for other road users.
I have been often on this topic, but sadly without any success. Several years back, I even chose a hard hitting title for my article, calling Goans most uncivilized on the roads, in the sincere hope that it would hurt our ego and move us to improve our behaviour and make us more sensitive on the roads. However, the ‘sossegado’ Goan refuses, till date, to be ‘sossegado’ on the roads.
For once, I refuse to blame the authorities for road accidents. We may castigate the Police for penalizing motorists for not wearing crash helmets or seat belts and the PWD for bad roads, but let me say very convincingly that helmets and seat belts do save lives. Best testimony would be from those who suffered head injuries for want of helmet. Still, the Police are collecting the highest revenue from helmetless riders. Why do we risk our lives for want of this small requirement? And, to be fair to PWD, our roads are fairly good, though there could be more efforts at filling potholes, which is an easy job. Let us not find fault with everyone else, except ourselves, and let us realize that we are most irresponsible, insensitive and reckless when we drive/ride, having least respect and concern for others.
Frankly, I do not know what it takes, for our motorists, to be more conscious of the hurt or even death we may cause to others or themselves. Anyone with some civic sense and human touch would be more cautious to avoid inconvenience and injury to others. But with penalties like “arrested and released on bail”, it is not surprising that motorists know that they can get away with what is often a “culpable homicide, not amounting t murder”. I cannot imagine, even for a moment that we can be so hardhearted so as not realize what our rash driving can lead to. The number of deaths and accidents in this small State of ours should make us shiver on the roads and that itself should make us more cautious while driving or riding.
Some NRIs, who were recently on holidays, mentioned that people, especially the tourist taxi drivers, drive like maniacs in Goa. And I corroborate this view. The way they overtake and shift lanes abruptly, right in front of you is frightening. This and the reluctance in using indicators, while shifting lanes or even whilst taking a turn, are dangerous tendencies, which often lead to avoidable accidents. I generally opt for the left lane, but it is rather difficult to stay within the lane, as most bikers ride in the middle, and vehicles on the right overtake rashly. Brashness and brusqueness is often observed in drivers of larger four-wheelers, obviously expecting everyone else to respect their size. It is good manners to show due regard for the weaker, especially the two-wheeler riders and pedestrians. Goans must learn from every other country how much pedestrians are respected on the roads. Vehicles compulsorily stop at zebra crossings and even elsewhere to allow pedestrians to cross. Here, people, elderly and children no exception, have to run to cross the street. Pedestrians have been hit by speeding vehicles and killed even on zebra crossings. In Margao, some seniors are unable to leave their houses because they can’t cross the roads. Where in the world, do we see such lack of courtesy? It is sheer rudeness and arrogance!
Goa’s administration has miserably failed in introducing city transport, waterways and even an extended railway line to the suburbs of Panjim, which would have heavily reduced traffic load on our roads and consequently accidents. These would have also provided employment to many and saved precious fuel. But, there is no willingness in taking such steps. Government’s sole preoccupation is broader roads and more railway tracks to help the movement of the killer coal to aid PM’s friends.
Absence of city buses and of parking lots, compel people to use two-wheelers, which are most vulnerable to serious accidents. Riders need to be cautious and avoid riding in the middle of the road or in the right lane. While overtaking on the left seems inevitable, care must be taken not to overtake on the turns.
Recently, there was a death in Panjim of a young man due to the criminal negligence of the contractor of Smart City. Later, a senior citizen suffered a fracture. The Mayor of Panjim spoke tough, but has he taken steps to rectify the situation and punish the culprit? Or has the latter greased enough hands to escape punishment? Such occurrences may not be common, but they have happened in the past. There is no value for human life in this country and hence such negligence and that of motorists on the roads are tolerated and do not deserve exemplary punishment which would serve as deterrent. When such tragic deaths occur, the victims; families are too shattered to follow up the cases to their logical conclusion.
There have to be consistent and dedicated efforts on the part of all of us to stop this carnage on our roads. No accident is deliberate, but when it is our negligence or recklessness which causes it, especially a serious one, it should weigh on our conscience and lead to a great remorse. It could be of a family’s sole breadwinner and we could be ruining a family forever. Let us always be conscious that while every life is precious, that of our victim could be more precious than our own.
(The author is a retired banker)
