Team Herald
PANJIM: In its ongoing drive against various traffic-related offences, the Goa Traffic Police and Transport Department will begin a crackdown on modified bikes, noisy silencers and fancy registration number plates from Wednesday.
The joint drive that will continue till April 21 is to ensure that these violations too are capped. “Our drive against drunken driving, helmetless riding, driving without seat belt, jumping red-light, etc, will continue. These three offences are included in the ongoing drive so that vehicle users are aware that authorities are not ignoring these violations,” a senior police officer said.
In view of the strict enforcement of the traffic rules and Traffic Sentinels lending a helping hand to the police, the department claimed that despite increase in vehicles, accidents have dropped and a significant decline in fatal accidents, too, have been recorded.
“The vehicle population (as on March 31, 2018) is 14.10 lakh of which two wheelers occupy major share, 68.95 per cent followed by cars 20.76 per cent. Despite the annual growth rate of vehicles being 13.90 per cent there is reduction in accidents by 5.31 per cent. There is significant reduction in accidental deaths as 21.32 per cent less number of persons have been killed in motor vehicle accidents (in 2018) as compared to 2017. It is the lowest in the last 15 years,” reads a press statement issued by the department.
Then Director General of Police Muktesh Chander, during the release of annual crime and traffic data in January 2019, had stated that a sharp increase of 48 per cent in prosecution of traffic offenders and drop in accidents as well as fatal accidents was owing to intensive traffic enforcement drive, successful implementation of Traffic Sentinel Scheme and various related factors.
The traffic police further said that special emphasis is laid on prosecuting violators for offences which have direct bearing on accidents and loss of precious lives. Compared to corresponding year 2017, prosecution against riders without helmet increased by 48.09 per cent while cases against drunken driving is also up by 104.20 per cent and using mobile while riding/driving increased by 52.53 per cent.
“Procurement of 4 Laser Speed Radar Guns gave an opportunity wings to Traffic Police to initiate action against over-speeding vehicles. During the year 2018 total 16,579 motorists were booked for over speeding,” it said.
As many as 34 violators of drunk driving were convicted with jail sentence ranging from one day to 10 days whereas 469 violators were convicted with rising of court cases besides fine.
