Margao’s surrounding areas have earned a bad repute for having the most deaths in road accidents. But are the ‘killer roads’ which they are often called really the killers? Is the vehicular traffic also wise enough to save itself from a death so silly? These are the questions faced by the commuters as well as the families of the youngsters.
The recent accident at Aquem Margao which took away the life of a young boy in a self accident is a harsh reminder of the pertinent threat people face due to the accidents on roads. The Director General of Police Goa, Muktesh Chander, has spoken of suspending nearly 3000 licences of violations, mostly drunken driving, and also of the habitual violators. Even the Margao Traffic cell has forwarded at least 48 cases of violations and requested suspension of licences.
The study conducted by the Goa Traffic Cell shows the maximum number of persons killed were due to motorcycle accidents. And almost 35 per cent of the total accidents were self-accidents, of which majority were due to the drunken driving in the State.
The self-accidents are claimed to be taking place due to effortless availability of liquor at cheap rates. However, it has been seen that a number of at least 30% of the incidents have been self accidents and have resulted in death of the rider/driver due to silly mistakes on road. Margao tops in the number accidents and also of fatalities followed by Pernem, Maina Curtorim, Bicholim and Ponda. Again Margao also tops in two-wheeler accidents followed by Mapusa, Ponda, Porvorim and Cuncolim. Maximum truck accidents have been witnessed in Ponda, followed Mapusa, Maina Curtorim, Pernem and Collem, while Verna tops in car accidents followed by Porvorim, Agassaim, Panjim and Margao. That brings us to the question whether all attempts of awareness are going in vain?
To understand the issue more Herald attempts to break down all the factors that cause road accidents in Margao and areas around.
The first words a violator of Motor Vehicle rules utters after being fined for his act are “put the roads in order and then challan us”. A road has been a significant factor in the entire scene of accidents in Goa. It has been always noticed that the roads in Goa have no crown or the convexity on its surface. This is detrimental to the long lasting of the road and also to the traffic. There is no scientific approach as far as the road tar mix is concerned. It has been noticed that there is neither a check on material used as per the estimate and schedule of tender nor there is proper supervision by concerned Engineer at the time of tarring. The roads in and around Margao still have invisible turns and are major causes of accidents.
It addition to that it has been seen that there are no speed limit boards anywhere on major bypasses and connecting roads. Having these signboards creates a sense of control when noticed and is an international rule.
Several accidents that happen in the night are also due to the non-using of dipper beam at night. “If compared to sudden increase of vehicle on road, there is no proper infrastructure of roads in Margao and around. Several roads and culverts are still narrow. Vehicles are of latest technology but roads are of Portuguese era,” said Mahesh Nayak of Jai Damodar Association.
As far as the obeying of rules is concerned, sources said, there has been a lack of social responsibility and belonging towards the state and town. People have been purposefully ignoring the safety norms and overtaking from left side, driving on fast lane, Zigzag riding and lane cutting, use of phone whilst driving and most importantly rough and selfish driving which is in contravention of Motor Vehicles Act are some common problems among the vehicular traffic.
Even the awareness is almost non-existent. “The people who drive and ride vehicles have misunderstood the complete concept of traffic cell and RTO work. To top it up neither the Transport Ministry nor the RTO or traffic cell has made any honest efforts to inculcate discipline on road,” said Santosh Kerkar from Margao.
It has been suggested by several people that a proper awareness of traffic safety and improvement in technology to curb violations will reduce accidents by 45%.
“Interceptor was a excellent concept but was badly executed. It is time that it is reintroduced and put to practice in full force,” said Mahesh Nayak. The need to remove sharp turns and rumbles is also huge. “Police are in fact expected to stop setting targets for challans and concentrate on traffic control and regulation,” said Mahesh.
The fact that this year here was a steep rise in the number of accidents in Colva area by almost 50 per cent, followed by Anjuna, Saligao, Quepem and Calangute, brings us to a question whether we as citizens are doing enough to stop this death circle. The Police Inspector of Margao Traffic Cell while speaking to Herald said, “The traffic volume in Margao has increased and the enforcement is also intensified,” said Mohan Gawde.
“We have already suspended 48 licences of riders/drivers for drunken driving. It is sadly to observe that over 30% accidents registered here are self accidents which is bizarre,” said PI Gawde. “There is a lack of patience and attention paid to safety which brings us to only keep increasing the awareness among the new generation,” he added.
The police have attempted to get the things right but the accidents appear to be growing. It is high time that the basic mantra of safety on roads “Start early, drive slow and reach safe,” is now communicated through all means to have an accidental-death free society in Goa.
