PANJIM: As Goa experienced the bloodiest two weeks due to road accidents, the issue of fixing responsibilities for the fatalities is getting as complicated as ever.
The police said that they had forwarded over 2,000 suggestions and awaited the correction of blackspots across the State roads, even as the fear of losing lives on roads among the people continues to loom large.
The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Traffic, North Goa, Siddhant Shirodkar, said, “We keep sending regular proposals for rumblers, road engineering, road widening and hot mixing. We have identified black spots when accidents occur and the proposals are pending. These proposals need to be implemented fast,” he said.
The Police Inspector of Anjuna, Prashal Desai however said that road condition alone can’t be blamed for accidents. “There are a lot of tourists on Goan roads with vehicles driving without following traffic discipline. One can’t blame only bad roads for the rising mishaps,” Desai said.
Meanwhile, the Author of the book “Practice Traffic Yoga”, Adv Moses Pinto said preventing road accidents is a collective responsibility of commuters and the authorities. “When it comes to pinning the blame, every factor is contributory. It is not just the road users but the authorities also need to be blamed equally,” he said.
“When new roads are being built, the communication of the authorities’ plans to the primary road users is necessary,” he said.
Road safety activist Mariano Ferrao said, “Bad roads, alcohol availability and drugs are contributors to accidents.”
“Penalising violators of traffic rules has always been a revenue push, it has to change to a method to save lives,” Ferrao said.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant however said that his government has already undertaken corrective measures as far as road infrastructure is concerned and a task force is going to break ground in the exercise.
Goans will eagerly wait to see this coming true.
