------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do GOACAN a favour, circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends. Help others be BETTER INFORMED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN to observe Consumers Road Safety Fortnight from 4th January ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN will observe a Consumers Road Safety Fortnight from 4th to17th January to create awareness among the Consumers on linkages of Road Safety issues and the Consumer Protection Act.
While the statistics of injuries & deaths on the roads of Goa for 2007 are shocking, a lot needs to be done in the area of Road Safety and Traffic Management with the direct involvement of the Goan consumer to Organise and not just Agonise over the matter. Lack of knowledge of the rules of the road, unsafe driving practices, sale of fake helmets & seat belts, lack of maintainence of speed breakers & rumbler strips, the need for Comfortable, Affordable and Safe travel by public transport are some of the issues that will be highlighted by GOACAN during this fortnight. During the Road Safety Fortnight, Consumer Forum volunteers will create an awareness on the changing usage of roads in Goa due to the increase in the number of vehicles and promote the benefits of bus bays, notified bus stops, zebra crossings, subways and proper signages. Consumer Forum volunteers will compile and submit Road Safety & Traffic Management Plans for their respective villages to the Traffic Police, Transport Department, District Magistrate, Village Panchayats and Municipal Councils. The Forum volunteers will also move resolutions at their respective village Gramsabhas on road safety issues, for the listing and maintainence of speedbreakers, rumbler strips and speed limit signages and the need for a Road Engineering Cell (REC) within the Public Works Department (PWD). Forum volunteers will highlight the need for comfortable, affordable and safe public transport which would include services provided by buses, taxis, rickshaws and motorcycle taxis. The volunteers will also distribute information about procedures for compensation claims in road accidents. The Forum volunteers will promote the use of the Complaint Boxes of the Consumer Welfare Clubs (CWC) for student commuters in High Schools, HSS and Colleges to report unsafe practices by public transport vehicles, harassment by conductors and denial of 50% bus concession. The campaign will also highlight the need for the Goa Government to spend revenue generated from fines of traffic offences on Road Safety Education and strengthening the Traffic Police Cell & the Enforcement Wing of the Directorate of Transport with sufficient personnel and necessary equipment such as interceptors, alcometers, night patrolling vehicles etc. During the fortnight Forum volunteers will interact with the Chairpersons of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), District Magistrates as well as senior officers of the Traffic Police and Transport Department with consumer feedback on Road Safety. Consumers having complaints & suggestions on Road Safety may send the same by post to GOACAN Post Box 187, Margao Goa 403 601 or by email to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> during this fortnight. ------------------------------------------------------------- GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ------------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]<http://mail.bsnl.in/do/mail/message/mailto?to=goacan%40bsnl.in> --------------------------------------------------------------
