One week is too short a period to be an effective method for highlighting road safety.
Nevertheless some consciousness is aroused. It should be a continuous process in action with meaningful outcomes.
However, the most visible pursuits seem to chase and challan those without helmets, as if not wearing helmets alone is the cause of accidents. Saving lives after accidents occur is a shallow reasoning.
The statistics of lives lost or maimed in spite of wearing helmets would be interesting? The main focus of safety enforcement appears to be revenue enhancement for the cash-strapped government, which is why sensational accidents seem to be linked with two-wheelers and loss of young lives.
The sale of motorbikes and scooters must compulsorily include the cost of helmets and it should not be optional for the pillion riders (ridiculous, as if their lives are dispensable). The quality of helmets worn just to circumvent the rules is a mockery. The lack of provision for securing helmets and also having to cart them along is cumbersome and dissuasive.
Minors, many who do not have licenses even to go to schools, on bikes provided by their parents.
There is no check on mechanical fitness of private vehicles. Besides, vehicles without insurance and driving without valid license should invite heavy penalty. The easy access to license is another worry.
Lack of good public transport facilities is increasing the vehicles on narrow roads, as a large number of vehicles are added every month.
Poor road lighting, dispersion prevented by foliage and vehicles that use glaring high beam add to woes at night .Besides, the cattle menace too is aggravating road safety, with badly- maintained, narrow and pot-holed roads. Poor quality of roads, specially during monsoons is a serious matter. The potholes are only attended to after fatal accidents, hue and cry or post monsoons.
Today, no one is bothered of dangerous overcrowding in public transport, delays, non-schedule stops and using passenger vehicles for transport of goods. Where is the caution on over-loading, rash and negligent driving, speeding specially to collect passengers, driving under influence of alcohol?
The SC fiat on liquor outlets on highways has been tweaked to accommodate commercial, revenue and employment considerations. Are eye tests, hearing impairment significant factors? High light beams are blinding the oncoming traffic and drivers.
The width of roads is the most neglected aspects thus far. The diversion of heavy traffic during peak hours, ban of entry of such vehicles are worthy of serious enforcements.
In spite of directions from MARD, the blind bends, scene of frequent accidents are crying for attention and action The proliferation of unscientific speed-breakers specially on National Highways become the cause of serious accidents. The revenue generated by fines, road tax must necessarily be used to improve road constructions, safety on priority. There is no emphasis on manning traffic with signals, but outdated manual approach is still in vogue
Goa is a small state, but its share of road accidents compared to the national average is alarming. The easy availability of alcohol at every nook and corner definitely makes it a heady mix. Bihar after introduction of ban on alcohol has seemed to reduce road accidents appreciably.
There should be an all India register of persons involved in accidents. Provision of temporary suspension and permanent ban on driving, if involved in recurring accidents cases. There should be a planned, directed educational approach at various levels to educate all concerned. There seems to be no road discipline followed by road users. The two-wheelers are a law unto themselves. Separate laning concept for vehicles has still not found favour.
The regular maintenance of passenger vehicles, strict check on drivers should be rigorously enforced. Some minimum level of education of drivers, psychological test on patience, alertness and quick response would go a long way.
Mere deterrents without proper education and human touch will come to naught.
