Team Herald
PONDA: Two-wheeler riders from Ponda taluka have criticized the 15-day road safety drive being undertaken across the State. Many of them, who were issued challans for not wearing helmets, have alleged that the drive was a money-generating tactic in the name of road safety. They have demanded that the police, instead of catching people while the latter visited the city to buy essential goods, stand beside the highway, where rash driving takes place.
On April 15, around 5,906 vehicles from across Goa were issued challans, out of which 5,179 were two-wheelers. The locals have stated that this number was proof that two-wheeler riders were being harassed.
A traffic police official, who was part of the drive, said that hundreds of challans had been issued in the city.
Umesh Naik, a local, said that only those who did not wear helmets while riding on highways should be penalized, and not those riding on city roads. He said, “Instead of targeting two-wheelers, the traffic department should check the speed of heavy vehicles, which will minimise accidents.”
On Sunday, hundreds of two-wheeler riders were stopped and issued challans by group of police officials at Tisk-Ponda. The residents of the Ponda and surrounding areas expressed anger at the same.
Ponda resident Anant Naik stated that the motorists in the town did not cross a speed of 30 kmph, and heavy vehicles were not allowed in city. “Why are we being harassed in the city? The residents are harassed if we go to buy fish, vegetables, and chicken, by issuing challans in the name of safety. The government should tell what is dangerous in the town,” he said.
Two-wheeler riders have alleged that heavy vehicles, such as tankers and trucks, are driven rashly on the highway and collide into bikes, but the traffic police still target two wheelers in the city areas.
“The traffic police should go to the highways. They simply stand in the town and fine residents of the town and nearby villages. The traffic police should fine those two-wheeler riders who do not wear helmets on the highway,” Viraj Sapre from Ponda.
