The recent Calangute tragedy is not a mere addition to the cases of accident statistics in the state. Rather it is another dark addition to our collective failure. Such predictable fatality of being trapped in a vortex of bottomless misery, where young lives are lost or maimed for life can be, if taken up in the right earnest, be avoided. Clearly, that does not seem to be the case, going by such incidents being reported repeatedly. Yet, certain measures can be adopted to counter such happenings.
To begin with the ‘Brand Goa’ needs an overhaul in totality. The ‘kuch bhi chalta hai’ attitude, the hollow narrative of the State being a paradise where ‘fun’ never sets and streams of Feni never dries, needs to be stopped immeidately. The government’s think tank needs to seriously put the proverbial thinking cap and come up with a more realistic depiction of this tourist destination.
Secondly, renting a vehicle to tourists is a good concept per se, but stripped of its sense of accountability, it can prove to be dangerous. When vehicles are rented out to guests, there is a high possibility that they are unfamiliar with the local terrain or the traffic culture, especially when it comes to navigating the narrow, meandering lanes and bylanes. Neither can one expect tourists to be aware of the regular black spots, accident prone zones etc. Add to it the possibility of being inexperienced in terms of driving, not to mention the consumption of heady concoctions which fog the mind and their motor skills.
In the given circumstances, authorities should make it mandatory that the car be rented with an experienced and sober driver. This will not only generate employment but also ensure the safety and security of the guests to a great extent. Also such rent a cab or bike should have special colour scheme for quick identification, in order to alert fellow drivers to accommodate these tourists who suddenly appear on the horizon, particularly in a no entry zone or whisk pass in an exhilarated state of mind, which is reflected in their driving or they suddenly slow down to decipher GPS directions. All in all the colour of the vehicle will herald and alert fellow travellers to up their antenna and take necessary precaution to avoid possible trouble.
There have been instances where rental cars were driven with open doors, or the tourists monkeying on the roof of the car, over speeding etc. As these incidents were available in public domain, there should be transparency in terms of action meted out to such culprits and service providers. This will curtail such disruptive tendencies, else it sets wrong precedents.
If one looks closely, most of these tragic instances according to research are attributed to negligence, absence of restraints (seat belts or helmets) , drunken driving, intoxicants, over speeding, use of mobiles or other gadgets. A reporting mechanism is required whereby civilians can contact the authorities or the owners to curb and control the menace. The owners should be made accountable for such unruly behaviour on the roads to ensure that they become more vigilant before they rent out their vehicles.
According to WHO, at least one out of 10 people who are killed on the roads across the world, is from India. Hopefully causative analysis of road accidents in line with the international practices will help to bring down the casualties especially in the tiny state of Goa.
