The tragic death of three minor boys involved in a car accident at Verna Industrial Estate highlights the fact that the entire system has failed at a time when the traffic police are boasting about the decline in road accidents. The accident is a wake-up call to parents who have turned a blind eye to their children taking on the wheels or bikes without a driving license. And it’s a wake-up call for traffic police who were virtually caught napping on Sundays.
The theory that parents were not aware that the car was taken doesn’t hold good. Children cannot master driving a family car without the knowledge of their parents. Even if the parents claim ignorance about the trip, they cannot deny the fact that the minor was used to driving the car. They drove from Curchorem to Verna, a good 40 kilometres distance, is testimony to the fact that this was certainly not the first attempt. The car was taken to a point at Verna, where the contours of the road offer a unique adventure experience, this speaks volumes of the ambition.
The incident has caught our enforcement napping. Otherwise, how does one explain a minor driving along with two other minors breaking through all traffic checks? This brings us to the question: why is there laxity on Sunday? Traffic police are seen in action at strategic places fining motorists for helmetless driving. But all other serious offences like drunken driving, vehicles with tinted glasses and people using cellphones while driving which has been a trend of late, have been completely ignored. There are hundreds of minors taking bikes to schools and colleges, some wearing helmets to escape the fine. Why are traffic police not cracking the whip on minors driving vehicles or motorcycles?
The transport department is contemplating on diluting the penal provisions of the amended Motor Vehicles Act. We don’t see any reason why, when road rules are being violated with such effortless ease. It’s not only about the life of the violator, but it’s also about endangering the lives of other motorists and pedestrians. Ironically, the government needs to take road safety, and the periodic awareness drives very seriously instead of reducing them into a show of giving roses to offenders.
Students riding bikes is an area of grave concern since it’s become a trend. It should be a collective responsibility of parents, traffic police and educational institutes to educate children. Schools cannot wash their hands off in this regard, and rather they should ensure discipline in the larger interest of the child.
Goa is stunned into silence by this horrific accident, and it shows how checks and balances have failed at different levels. It’s an eye-opener for parents who reward their wards with bikes on the slightest pretext of passing exams. It’s a failed test for traffic police and a lesson to be learnt for schools.
