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HELMET ISSUE: MAG TO DECIDE PLAN OF ACTION TODAY ( 22nd Feb) The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) will meet on Saturday 22nd February to finalise a state wide agitation to protest against the Government's failure to notify the two exemptions to the helmet rule as mooted by the former Transport Minister Pandurang Raut in consultation with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in March 2001. The two exemptions are persons driving motorcycles at a speed not exceeding 40 km and persons driving motorcycles in municipal areas. Meanwhile, MAG Convenor Premanand Lotlikar has appealed to two wheeler riders not to panic and to stand united to defeat the sinister move by the authorities to once again rake up the helmet issue. Mr. Lotlikar stated that precious lives would be saved not by wearing helmets but if the government cared to deal with the causes of accidents. Mr. Lotlikar stated that though Chief Minister had assured the Goa Assembly almost two years ago that Stray cattle would be cleared from our roads and highways, nothing has been done to date and that besides one lakh stray dogs chasing two wheeler in particular are a cause for most accidents. Mr. Lotlikar strongly condemned police action in harassing two-wheeler riders but turning a blind eye to the reckless traffic violations by four wheelers especially the rash and negligent buses and trucks which were the cause of major deaths on roads which could never be saved by merely wearing helmets. Mr. Lotlikar wondered whether Government would also contemplate helmets for pedestrians' inview of the fact that hundreds of innocent pedestrians are killed every year due to the rash and negligent four wheeler riders and the accident-prone roads. Mr. Lotlikar further stated that if the Government was really interested in road safety the first step would be to end corruption in the police and transport department which are two of the most corrupt departments in the state. x x x _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.goanet.org/mailman/listinfo/goanet
