-------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN will observe a Consumers Road Safety Fortnight from 17th to 30th July to create awareness among the Consumers on linkages of Road Safety issues and the Consumer Protection Act as part of its ongoing Campaign on Road Safety & Traffic Management.
The fortnight long program is being organised with a view to create Awareness, record Complaints and book Violations on issues of Road Safety and Traffic Management keeping in mind the Rights & Responsibilities of the Consumer. While the statistics of injuries & deaths on the roads of Goa for 2008 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. >From January to June 2008, in the past 6 months there were 153 fatal accidents in which 172 persons were killed - of these 66 were motorcycle riders, 20 pillion riders, 16 drivers, 36 pedestrians, 30 passengers, 2 cyclists and 2 others besides 164 persons suffered grievous injuries. Lack of knowledge of the rules of the road, unsafe driving practices, non use of helmets & seat belts, sale of fake helmets, lack of maintenance 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, the Consumer Forum volunteers will create 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 Gram Sabhas on road safety issues, for the listing and maintenance of speed breakers, rumbler strips and speed limit signages and the need for a Road Engineering Cell (REC) within the Public Works Department (PWD) and the formation of a Road Safety & Traffic Management Committee at the level of the Village Panchayat and Municipal Council. 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, non issue of tickets, 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 necessary and sufficient personnel & equipment such as interceptors, alcometers, night patrolling vehicles etc. ---------------------------------------------------------- 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 mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------------------------------
