MARGAO: With the rise in fatal accidents, particularly due to drunken driving, the traffic cells from Salcete were on Monday provided with 10 new alcometers by the police department to keep a check on the instances of drunken driving.
PI Filomena Costa of Colva traffic cell said that breathalyzer has provided to with for conducting an orally-invasive test. It will help determine an individual’s breath alcohol concentration at the time of testing.
According to the information available, two traffic cells based in Margao and Colva covering 66 villages of Salcete, book cases of Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) violation every day. However, Margao and Colva traffic cell had only three alcometers, which was woefully led as compared to the vehicle population in the taluka. Sources in Margao traffic cell said that on last Wednesday, they were provided with eight alcometers to be operated in their
jurisdiction for keeping check on drunken driving cases.They had only one alcometer earlier.
The traffic cell officer expressed confidence that now they will be able to book more drivers for drunken driving and keep such cases under check. The Colva traffic cell said that it was given two new alcometers on Monday, taking the number to three.
PI Traffic, Filomena Costa said that since January till date this year, Colva traffic cell booked 11,691 cases of MVA violation, which include 71 drunken driving cases, while 574 were booked for not wearing helmet, 319 for not fastening the seat belt, 3,148 for driving with tinted glasses, 46 for riding triple seat and 79 cases of speaking on mobile while driving. He said that drive shall continue.
It may be recalled that in South Goa, a number of accidents have occurred due to drunken driving.
A total of 49 individuals lost their lives in fatal accidents during the first five months of this year in South Goa, with an additional 63 non-fatal accidents reported, resulting in injuries to over 70 people.
According to a recent survey, the areas of Verna, Ponda, and Cuncolim have been identified as the
most accident-prone zones in the district, where a higher number of both fatal and minor accidents
were reported.
Tragically, two minors, aged two and 10, lost their lives in accidents that occurred in Salcete taluka in the first five months.
Out of the 49 fatal accidents reported in South Goa, nine each occurred in Verna and Ponda, while six were reported in Cuncolim. Additionally, five fatal accidents were reported in Vasco, four each in Margao, Maina-Curtorim and Canacona.
