Team Herald
PANJIM: Coming down heavily on Motor Vehicle (MV) Act violators, the Goa government has announced it will suspend the driving licence of persons involved in violations for a period of three months. A special counselling of two hours will be undertaken for riders and pillion riders, not wearing helmets, along with a fine of Rs 100.
The decision comes following recommendations made by the Supreme Court appointed three-member committee on road safety.
Speaking to media persons, Transport Director Arun Desai said that the Supreme Court appointed committee in its report on road safety has focused upon enforcement, engineering, education and emergency.
“The committee has recommended that the driving licence be suspended for a period of three months, if a person is found violating MV Act rules. This recommendation will be implemented by the State soon,” he said.
Desai said that as per the latest directions of the Committee on enforcement, helmet laws may be applicable to all the States and Union Territories to riders and pillion riders, wherein the violators will be provided two-hour long counselling on the usage and importance of helmets, before being imposed a fine of Rs 100.
“The violators go scot-free after paying the minimal fine of Rs 100. But now, they will have to take two hours, and even more time for counselling,” he said adding that the State enforcement wing has enough manpower to implement the measure.
Stating that there has been a marginal decline in the number of road accident over the years, Desai said that the deaths have come down by nearly 10-12 percent compared to 2010 that recorded 327 accidental deaths. “However, the figures showed an upward trend in 2014 when 280 people died compared to 267 deaths in 2013,” he said.
