There is no seriousness on wearing of the helmet by two-wheeler riders. Some year’s back few MLAs did a road show with their newly acquired motorbikes and drove straight to the Goa legislative assembly without helmets. Their pictures were flashed across all local newspapers and what followed was the criticism from all corners. But if these same MLAs were invited to speak on road safety program they would be happily speaking and requesting others to wear the safety helmet.
BJP MLAs including Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar recently with his supporters carried out the Tiranga rally on two-wheelers, majority of the riders and pillion did not wear helmet nor did the pillion rider tourism minister. Its time our Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Prime Minister Modiji reprimand his own minister for such violation of the traffic law.
In Goa we average one death per day on the road, few days back a young innocent boy (son) lost his life, when his father was dropping him to school skidded off the road the son suffered serious head injurious resulting in his death. Most of Indian parents are very callous towards the child safety. We lack road discipline and all traffic rules are thrown out of the window. A big loss to the parents and nation.
Recently Parliament introduced a bill to make punishment stringent by heavy fines and also the introduction for children helmet. Our public transport is not to the mark forcing the public to make use of the two- wheelers into a multi-purpose vehicle bypassing all traffic rules. There is a need to sensitize Indian riders about the road safety discipline. Now do we allow those in power to go scot free for the open violation? Will the traffic police or RTO act now as all pictures of the riders are available on the electronic and print media. There is no need for any SMS or Whatsapp complain. Will the Supdt. of Traffic Police call the shots? Best opportunity for those who took part in the rally with their beloved MLA, they should carry out a community service program such as taking part in the coming State Road safety program in September and visiting schools/public places to give a lecture on road safety with the Tiranga.
Hope better sense will prevail with those in power. You can’t leave it to GOACAN and consumer forums/clubs alone to do the road safety show.
