PANJIM: There is uproar across the State following recent deaths due to drunken driving, with law-abiding citizens demanding the government enforce the stringent law against drunk driving in letter and spirit, and suspension of licences of the culprits.
Aldona MLA, Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira demanded that drunk drivers and stunt drivers should be booked for attempt to murder, place them under arrest and prosecute such drivers in accordance with law.
Adv Ferreira said that he has written to the Chief Secretary, the Transport Secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP) demanding a crackdown on drunk driving and stunt driving.
It merits round the year and round the clock monitoring and booking those found driving under the influence of alcohol for attempt to murder.
Adv Ferreira claimed that the number of cases of drunk driving was proof that there was no crackdown on drunk driving and that it has become a state of lawlessness in Goa.
“The manner in which drunken driving specially is causing deaths, not only lives of innocent Goans but also lives of innocent tourists or even workers is a testimony that there is total lawlessness in the streets of Goa,” Adv Ferreira said.
He pointed out that the very fact that the Anjuna PI said that the report of the driver allegedly drunk will be received in two to three days, is proof that the Anjuna Police do not have the required alcometers of breath analysers to effectively crack down on the menace. He demanded that all the police stations and RTOs be equipped with the alcometers immediately
Tourists come to Goa and are aware that there is no law here. This doesn’t happen in any other place. In Mumbai ay or Bengaluru the police are on the street 24 hours to check for drunk driving, he said.
Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Akshat Kaushal said, “Action against drunken driving is taken on a regular basis. The offenders are fined. We also recommend to the department of transport to cancel the driving licence when repeat offenders are found.”
“Surprise checks are held. If there is input that a drunk drive is taking place, our staff is deployed to check on all such instances. However, extreme caution is exercised that no inconvenience should be caused to ordinary tourists who have come to Goa. Law is enforced without causing any inconvenience,” Kaushal said.
Human rights activist Adv Albertina Almeida said, “The law as it exists regarding drunken driving must be followed. We are living in a state of lawlessness where in the last few days we have seen blatant violation of noise pollution laws and Supreme Court directives, and public display of drunkenness under the very nose of police and authorities and elected representatives.”
“So long as there is overall lawlessness and no collective action, this will continue. The masochism in stunt driving is an extension of the machismo prevalent in society and in governance and there has to be difference both through confronting it in governance and sensitisation of society,” Adv Almeida said.
GOACAN coordinator Roland Martins advocated the need for a special website to be jointly hosted by the lead agency, Department of Transport and the Goa Traffic Police to give updates of case status of all these road accidents.
“The government has constituted sub-committees consisting of the respective police stations in-charge and PWD sub-offices, to analyse the cause of motor accidents and give recommendations. All these things need to be activated, he said, adding that he will raise these issues during the North Goa Road safety Council meeting scheduled on November 28.
GOACAN will observe a campaign from November 19 to 26, to demand justice for road traffic victims of drunken driving, rash and negligent driving and hit and run cases in the State, Martins informed.
All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) leader Christopher Fonseca said that reporting drunk on duty is serious misconduct and has to be dealt with a firm hand. He said that the KTCL management has taken the correct step of suspending a driver for drunk driving and has instilled confidence among the public.
He also condemned the stunt driving as it was posing threat to people travelling on roads.
All Goa Private Bus Owners Association General Secretary, Sudip Tamankar opined that the police are not using alcometers regularly to keep a check on drunk driving. He said that the police and the RTO should act in accordance with law as there are stringent punishments for drunk driving and causing death on the road.
