Accidents on Goan roads In quick succession there has been mayhem on roads with loss of precious life, The caution and concern will be short lived as usual The causes are many but action by authorities fall short of expectations
The vehicle population has increased exponentially, but increase in the widths of roads has not changed in proportion. The potholes, badly maintained and poor quality of roads is no one s responsibility. . The absence of frequency of reliable public transport would have obviated the need for multiplication of private vehicles, Two wheeler sales are zooming, but parents are putting vehicles in the hands of minors even to go to schools.. Youngster are brash and a law unto themselves. Possession of car is now a status symbol with easy bank finances at door steps.. Rash Negligent driving,overtaking drunken driving are not easy to monitor or penalize. Breadth analyzers, vehicles to check speed, lane crossing are found wanting. It is sad that road signals are a rarity and police manning them could be released FOR MORE PURPOSEFUL WORK. The traffic police are not authorized to book violators. Politicians interfere with the police to curry favours on behalf of friends and traffic violators .On the issue of driving licences, fitness test of vehicles for registration, the less said is better. Police check vigorously, piously helmet wearing and vehicles with outside registration is obvious.. The police should use stop, proceed sign boards instead of illusive hand signals confusing at times. The positioning and maintaining of cameras could keep an eagle eye on the traffic violators more effectively and without arguments . The yearly vehicle fitness certificate would take care of mechanical failures .Too many openings of crossing of road dividers is adding to the nuisance and unplanned, unmarked speed breakers are another hazard. MAD advisories on blind road bends are gathering dust .The insurance for road accidents should be heavily increased and drivers involved suspended and finally driving licence cancelled permanently. An all India registry of such drivers should be put in place so that they do not jump the gun by migration.. A fetish is being promoted by banning bars within 500 meters of highways as the major culprit of road accidentsand Govt bending backwards to pamper the liquor lobby. Police are more concerned with uniforms of conductors and never booking overloading of bus passengers, The tax per passengers has led to introduction of mini buses overloaded beyond capacity with passengers packed like sardines. Accidents involving passenger transport should be dealt mercilessly. With ever increasing two wheelers, separate lanes in Goa could be effective Heavy traffic should be banned during peak and rush hours. The ornamental plants inside road dividers should not block normal visions and all sign boards hoardings within 40 meters, speed breakers be removed swiftly as per law and SC directions. PWD should continuously monitor and repair immediate damage and that is also caused by road digging and dumping of construction material haphazardly. Any unauthorized structures including religious one and other encumbrances on roads need no sympathy and warning but swift actions to demolish and fine such violators. The road s lately are well illuminated but foliage and branches diffusing the light must be cut immediately. Stray cattle should be impounded Educating the road users to be responsible and cautious will be a long term project .All the revenue collected by way of road ax and fines should be religiously ploughed back into road safety measures and not diverted towards any other purpose however laudable. The road signs are to be painted and replaced regularly .The multiple crossing junctions should stick to road safety norms. Pedestrians not crossing at zebra lines should be fined and their unhindered right of way must be ensured Before issuing and renewing licences the drivers should be put through compulsory orientation programmes Nelson Lopes Chinchinim
