The horrific death of three persons in Sunday's accident on the busy Banastarim bridge, where a speeding Mercedes car crashed into multiple vehicles, has again thrown open the crucial debate of drunken driving. The vehicle's driver was reportedly intoxicated, with alcohol levels far exceeding permissible limits.
If we may recall, in July 2022, Goa saw another spine-chilling accident in the State when a speeding car with four occupants plunged into the Zuari rivers after breaking through the bridge's feeble concrete railing. While all four died in the accident, the forensic report later confirmed that the driver was under the influence of alcohol.
On Monday, when the Banastarim accident surfaced briefly in the Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant claimed helplessness. "If we intensify checks, people complain of harassment," was his retort. He advised people to be responsible and avoid driving after consumption of alcohol.
Unfortunately, it takes tragedies and deaths for some awakening in the system in Goa. Following the Zuari bridge accident, road enforcement began flashing their speed guns and alcometers as the government started thinking of asking bars and restaurants to provide drivers or taxis for those exceeding alcohol limits. And soon, all action ceased, and all equipment disappeared. We may have a repeat this time around.
The Banastarim accident calls for immediate intervention of road enforcement authorities. Talking the "drink responsibly" or "drive responsibly" language does not work in a State like Goa, where booze flows freely, and road enforcement is entirely lax. Goa is a tourism state known for its alcohol, and the spate of alcohol licences issued recently averaging one a day is testimony of that. However, that does not stop the State authorities from putting measures in place to ensure the overall safety of citizens. We can't have a 'free-for-all' scenario where someone goes at breakneck speeds, under the influence of alcohol or otherwise, and runs over innocent lives.
The irony is that the system has remained insensitive to the mood of the State. Goa swings into party mode, especially on Saturdays and Sundays. While the common grouse is about shortage of manpower, the government should at least tighten road enforcement on these two days of the week if it believes that a sustained clampdown could hurt the tourism and social life of Goans. While harsher fines have failed to reduce the accident rate, the focus must be on intensifying vigil. Many from the treasury benches, including Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and Nuvem MLA Aleixo Sequeira, have stressed the need to take road safety seriously.
The question here is about setting systems and deterrents. Accidents booked under 304A of the IPC ” causing death by rash or negligent act, not amounting to culpable homicide are bailable. The fines on a higher side could extend up to Rs 10,000 and could mean suspension of licence. The Banastarim case will be soon forgotten, but the scars left on the lives of families of the deceased and those seriously injured will remain forever.
The Banastarim accident is another grim reminder that there has to be a review of road policing, especially at night, and stricter protocol and enforcement; otherwise, everyday citizens would be sitting ducks, not knowing when someone irresponsible would cast a death spell over them.
