PANJIM: In view of increase in number of accidents involving rent-a-car and rent-a-bike, the Goa Police on Wednesday released a new rule concerning them.
Addressing a press conference, Superintendent of Police (SP), Traffic, Rahul Gupta now anyone looking to rent a car or a motorcycle will need to sign undertakings prior to using any Goan roads.
“Rent-a-cab and rent-a-bike vehicles are more likely to meet an accident. The data, which we have studied, indicate that they are twice likely to meet with an accident as compared to other vehicles. This is very worrisome trend which has been observed. The reason is that the users who ride these vehicles are not familiar with the topography of the state and they are negligent about the traffic rules,” he said.
“When someone will hire a rented vehicle from an agency, they will have to sign an undertaking. Two undertakings have been designed. One for rented bike and another for rented cabs. These undertakings contain ten road safety regulations. The user will read and fill his or her personal details,” he said.
The undertaking to be signed by the vehicle user says that the rider will not violate any traffic law, will not allow anyone else to drive the vehicle, will not drive the car under the influence of alcohol, will not drive car without wearing a seat belt, will not use mobile phone while driving car, will not allow anyone stand through the sun roof in the car, will not perform stunts with the car, will not drive the car on beach, will not drive the car in a rash and negligent manner and will not jump red light signal.
Gupta said, “We have mentioned legal sections attached to each of the issues and penalties pertaining to each of the issues. There will be two copies of the undertakings signed by them. One will be kept by the user and the other will remain with the renting agency.”
He hoped that the measure will help in reducing accidents involving rent-a-bikes and rent-a-cabs.
He said police inspectors have been briefed about the undertakings and have been asked to distribute the undertaking forms to renting agencies. “The PIs will conduct random inspections and collect weekly reports. They will also conduct meetings with the rental services agencies at their circle levels. They will brief accordingly and ensure that they are properly implemented,” the police officer said.
Meanwhile, Panjim Traffic Cell of Goa Police held a meeting a meeting with the members of Rent a Car Association and briefed them about the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be followed by them while renting out the vehicle’s to tourists.
“We briefed them about the SOPs to be followed while renting out the vehicles. We asked them to take the details of the tourists like Aadhar Card and Driving licence. We also asked them to sensitise the tourists about safe driving while renting out the vehicles to the tourists,” Panjim Traffic Cell PI Chetan Saulekar told O Heraldo.
Meanwhile, Colva Traffic Cell Police Sub Inspector Deu Mangaonker held the meeting of the rent-a-car and rent-a-bike owners and explained to them the new undertaking introduced by the Goa Police to create awareness in traffic rules to tourists in reducing accidents on roads across the State.
PSI Mangaonker explained to them the 10 points to be followed while renting their cars or bikes.
