Goa gears up to tackle road mishaps

Goa gears up to tackle road mishaps
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MAY 25
Speed detection devices like radar guns, interceptor vehicles, and safety devices like reflectors and signages besides (additional) alcoholmeters may be the main features on Goa’s highways and district roads soon.
This will be part of the multi-pronged approach the State Government is planning to adopt to tackle the growing road accidents and fatalities. Traffic enforcement might also start at night and use of helmets could be made compulsory on district roads among other measures, official sources hinted.
While Goa is adopting the National Road Safety Policy, the State will soon constitute State-level Road Safety Council.
Goa’s Development Commissioner and Secretary, Transport Narendra Kumar said that the Government intends to take some major steps in order to arrest the growing deaths on Goa’s roads.
“We are making a proposal to the Central Government for purchase of speed detection guns, interceptor vehicles, and alcoholmeters”, Kumar who is also the Secretary to the Governor of Goa, said.
Statistics show that on an average around 12 accidents are reported in a day and a life is lost in road accidents in less than one and a half day.
Talking to Herald, the Transport Secretary said the State Government would avail of the central funds for the purchase of gadgets and devices which would reduce road accidents.
As reckless driving is one of the main reasons, the Government would go in for interceptor vehicles and speed detection guns. Devices to check driving under influence of liquor are proposed to be purchased, Kumar who is an advisor to an institute tackling drunken driving in New Delhi said.
Interceptor vehicles were first introduced in Goa around 8-9 years ago but they were abruptly withdrawn before making a comeback for some time.
At night the extreme sides of the road, at times, are not visible leading to vehicles going off the road. To put an end to this, there is need for increasing road visibility, he said adding that devices like reflectors and bright signages would be procured.
The Transport Secretary strongly supports the view of neurosurgeons that two-wheeler riders should compulsorily use helmets. He is also of the view that even the pillion rider should use head gear. Incidentally, two-wheelers on the live register of the transport department is more than 5 lakhs.
The government however, has not stopped talking about conducting detailed analysis on evolving a road map for safe roads in Goa. For the last ten years, the State Government has engaged some expert or the other or some institute to conduct such studies.
The latest is that it has engaged a Delhi-based central road research institute for a comprehensive study on reducing road accidents in Goa. As 50% advance, Rs 36 lakh has been released, sources in the department said.