The amended Motor Vehicle Act finally comes into force in Goa on Friday bringing into effect the new fines against traffic violations. Hefty challans in the range of Rs 1000 to Rs 10000 have been prescribed for various violations bringing a lot of seriousness to road discipline. However, as the enforcement machinery gears up to implement the new rules, a few questions still linger: Will the stiff fines bring about road discipline in Goa? Or rather, could these fines act as a deterrent against traffic violations? How does the police reorient itself and focus more on on-road discipline rather than collecting fines? And finally, how do authorities ensure that the hike in fines doesn’t trigger a spike in corruption among those manning the roads?
While the implementation of the rules has been always connected to maintaining road discipline, it is amply clear that in Goa it was merely kept in abeyance due to the assembly elections against fear of a public outcry. It is also clear that the powers that be chose votes over traffic safety and deceivingly used the patchy infrastructure to justify postponement. The fact of the matter was that road rules were kept on hold without any consideration for the safety aspects of motorists.
Consider this. The Directorate of Transport’s monthly report of the number of accidents in 2021 was a reflection of traffic indiscipline rather than anything else, and yet the system remained a mute spectator. The March 2021 data alone showed there were 286 road accidents, in which 21 people lost their lives, including 14 riders. During the same period, there were 20 fatal mishaps and 23 grievous accidents. In September 2021, Goa witnessed five fatal accidents in a single day. How is it justified to extensively keep implementation on hold on the premise of poor infrastructure and pandemic conditions, and now call it a move to discipline road violators?
The State Director of Transport Rajan Satardekar on Thursday disclosed that the Road Transport Authority and the state police are geared up to implement the new rules. While road violators may be under heightened surveillance, it must be borne in mind that those enforcing the law will also be under close watch. Historically, there have been reports about large-scale corruption with challans not being issued for consideration. With traffic on the roads rising exponentially over the years, more so with the influx of desi tourists, the transport department will have a tough job to ensure that the rise in fines doesn’t lead to a spike in corruption, negating the purpose behind the law.
We hope that the men in uniform go by the spirit of the law and prioritize infringements that throw lives at risk rather than counting the challans and the money raked in. The approach and mentality towards ensuring road safety need to change, both from the citizens and the police. It’s time to buckle up and face the change.
