Though Goa does well on some performance indicators nationally, ironically it is also tipping the scales on the road safety front. With one accident reported every two hours in 2013, the government has to do some serious thinking on saving precious lives and develop advanced road networks
SHWETA KAMAT
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: A deluge of high performance vehicles, stretching of speed limits, failure of the government to provide high speed super smooth highways and safe roads, ineffective enforcement by RTO and Traffic Police and people’s apathy and failure to develop respect for rules through road safety education seem to be a perfect cocktail for bloodbath on Goan roads, as the State struggles to shake off the tag of ‘Killer State’ even for the year 2013.
While the recent accident involving a private bus and two-wheeler that claimed the lives of three students has brought the focus back on laxity and failure of strict enforcement by traffic police for over-speeding, the year saw 4087 accidents with 242 people killed till December 16. November saw as many as 20 pedestrians deaths caused by road accidents.
Keeping in mind the peak festival season ahead, and strangulating traffic on roads during Christmas and New Year, the transport department claims that the death toll might rise further to 260-270 by the year end.
Though the number of road accidents and deaths this year dipped compared to 2012 that witnessed 4,312 accidents and 292 fatalities, what is worrying is the rash and negligent driving culture, especially plaguing the youth, particularly college teens. It’s never too late seems to be thinking adopted by the transport department, which launched an extensive drive near all educational institutions in mid-December to punish rash and negligent riders and those violating the Motor Vehicle Act.
Since highways permit greater speed, it also results in greater number of road accidents and fatalities with almost 50 percent of accidents been reported on the highways, this year. The balance 50 percent is attributed to road accidents in the city, towns and rural roads.
A total of 225 fatal accidents were reported while 984 minor accidents. Of the total 4087 accidents, no injuries were reported in case of 2640 accidents while in case of 984 accidents minor injuries were reported this year.
Unlike past few years, the year 2013 saw no major accidents related to heavy vehicles. This can be attributed to closure of mining industry which led to ceasing of truck movement along the mining talukas of Goa, which were prone to accidents.
While statistics disclose that road accidents and deaths have shown a downward trend since 2010, what is disturbing is the utter disregard for safe driving and failure to be circumspect about on coming vehicles.
On one hand, vehicle population has grown exponentially in Goa, and rash driving too has gone unpunished. The State currently has over 9.50 lakh vehicles registered with 70,000 adding up every year.
Goa registered 4,572 accidents in 2010 resulting in 327 deaths; in 2011, 4,560 accidents resulting in 333 deaths. In 2012, Goa registered 4,312 accidents and 292 fatalities.
The various government departments have not put barricades at medians along the main city and town roads to prevent pedestrians from crossing at every stretch. Talking on cellphones by pedestrians crossing roads and vehicle users has not been punished to deter this nuisance. There is no respect and awareness by drivers for pedestrians crossings. Double parking, overshooting speed limits and expanding parking or paid parking has not been punished/implemented.
With transport department have woken-up too late from its slumber and government planning to widen and improve road conditions, we can only hope and pray that there will be some improvement in traffic and decrease the number of accidents in the New Year 2014.
In 2010, the State had signed an agreement with Central Road Research Institute to do a study for traffic circulation plan in tourism areas such like Calangute, Colva and satellites like Porvorim, inspect non highway junctions – approximately at 200 points in both north and south Goa, traffic problems created by mining transport, mining routes, identification of mining corridors. Another objective was to study the public transport system, bus stops and bus bays.
Former Maharashtra Director-General of Police P S Pasricha in a preliminary report submitted had observed that the liquor stores close to the highways were one of the reasons for the large number of accidents taking place.
Also junctions, road engineering, were topics where lot of recommendations were given.
However, there is no clarity whether these were actually followed and the deaths and the traffic conditions in the state belie the fact that there has been any improvement in the traffic situation in the State in the past year even with a technocrat as chief minister.
