Rented vehicles (rent-a-car and rent-a-bike) are not only adding to the chaos on the road but also to the worries of a State already burdened by an increasing number of road accidents. The Sirlim accident in Salcete earlier this week has once again exposed the risks that come along with these rented vehicles. A temporary ban on further licensing is not the solution. The Transport Department will have to tie up the loose ends before this gets completely out of hand.
In the Sirlim case, the vehicle was being driven by a 19-year-old youth from Maharashtra, who was dangerously overtaking from the left side of the two-wheeler. The impact left the lady grievously injured with multiple fractures on her legs and hands, while the driver fled from the scene of the accident. The question is, who holds responsibility over such reckless driving? For the record, the police must be commended for initiating quick action and invoking a murder charge on the driver. Such stringent measures are the need of the hour when lives on roads become so uncertain.
At the heart of the issue is the unchecked expansion of the rent-a-car industry, much of which operates with little accountability. Tourists unfamiliar with Goa’s roads, sharp bends and unpredictable traffic conditions are being handed vehicles with minimal safeguards. And secondly, there is an assumption that Goa is a free-for-all State where tourists take the liberty of going freewheeling. The result is increasingly visible on the roads with speeding, dangerous overtaking, driving on the wrong side, and complete disregard for traffic discipline.
The Sirlim accident is not an isolated case. In the month of May itself, there were four other accidents involving rented vehicles. The Siolim-Marna drunk driving case of tourists is another such case reported on May 26, while a day earlier, a rented vehicle rammed into a pole at Siridao. There are numerous cases of rented vehicles taking wrong lanes and ignoring road rules, showing scant respect to motorists. The problem is compounded by drunk driving, weak monitoring systems and the absence of proper safety controls.
Many rented vehicles continue to operate without GPS tracking, speed monitoring devices or any form of real-time oversight. This leaves authorities with little ability to track violations or identify repeat offenders before tragedy strikes. In effect, a section of the industry has been allowed to function in a manner where responsibility is blurred, and accountability is almost nonexistent.
The government has acknowledged the seriousness of the issue to some extent, with the chief minister admitting the chaos caused by these rented vehicles. Measures such as suspending new rental licences, initiating stricter prosecution of offenders and considering cancellation of permits for repeat violations are steps in the right direction. Yet these measures remain largely reactive. The deeper problems remain unresolved.
Perhaps the most glaring failure is the lack of accountability for vehicle owners and operators. Too many rental businesses simply hand over vehicles without assessing whether the customer is capable of handling them safely. A driving licence alone cannot be treated as sufficient assurance, especially in a tourist-heavy state where road conditions demand caution and familiarity. Operators must be made legally responsible for ensuring their vehicles are used responsibly.
Goa cannot tolerate such behaviour for the sake of tourism. The State needs tourism, but not at the cost of the lives of our innocent people, and the appeal as a tourist destination cannot come at the cost of public safety. The growing recklessness associated with rented vehicles is not merely a traffic issue; it is a serious public safety crisis demanding immediate and decisive intervention. The Sirlim accident should not fade into memory as just another mishap. It must become the moment that forces authorities to act firmly, tighten the law and fix accountability where it belongs.
