Rash and negligent driving has been the main cause for the rise in the number of road accidents in Goa. In the past few months there have been several incidents of hit and run reported in the State. Some of these cases have ended in fatalities. Another reason for the accidents is drunken driving, specially along the coastal belt.
According to statistics the Margao traffic cell has reportedly booked 625 persons driving under the influence of alcohol and legal action was taken. It is understood that there were 79 fatal accidents and 190 minor ones reported in South Goa. These are staggering figures for just one district.
The only way to catch a culprit in a hit and run case is by installing CCTV cameras along the roads. The other day in Vasco a two-wheeler rider escaped from the scene of the accident after hitting a parked car which caused a deep dent to the car. The police were able to trace and book the two-wheeler rider by using the CCTV footage.
While the roads in the main cities are under the surveillance of the CCTV cameras, the same is not the case for the roads in the villages and the highways. It may not be possible to bring all the roads in the State under the CCTV surveillance. It would however be in the fitness of things to install CCTV cameras along the roads which have been notified as accident-prone-zones.
Police have intensified their vigil against drunken driving. Such vigil needs to be kept round the clock along the beach-belt which is notorious for incidences of tourists driving in a drunken state. Another aspect that needs to be watched closely is use of mobile phones while driving. The other day I saw a driver of a car typing a message on his cell phone after slowing down his car on the highway, thus causing hindrance to the smooth flow of the traffic.
Traffic discipline is the need of the hour if the number of accidents is to be brought down to a minimal. However, there are traffic violators galore on the roads. In urban areas, specially, in Vasco vehicles are seen entering the road even when there is a “No Entry” sign. Road users do not seem to think twice about breaking the traffic rules. This is so probably because of the absence of traffic cops at regular intervals.
In cities like Bangalore one will see a traffic-cop posted at a distance of every 500 meters, specially, at road intersections. These cops are on duty even after dusk. The mere presence of a traffic cop can act as a deterrent to potential traffic violators. It seems imposing a fine on those who violate the traffic rules does not have the desired effect. Traffic violators do not seem to feel the pinch of paying the prescribed penalty. The only remedy is to increase the penalty. For repeated violators it could be necessary to suspend the license for a predetermined number of days. We need to make our roads safe for the citizens.
