The forensic report is out! Drunken driving appears to have led to the horrifying accident over Zuari bridge in July 2022, where all four occupants of the car died after it hit the balustrade fencing and plunged into the depths of the river. The accident sparked an intense debate over the perils of drunken driving in the State.
Coincidentally, the report comes at a time when Goa is in the midst of a series of accidents bringing to the fore once again the preparedness of traffic police to curb the drunken driving menace that has been so common on Goan roads. So the question before us today is whether the State is serious about it or whether lip service is being paid to the issue only during the ‘mourning’ phase.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has consistently reiterated that over 90 per cent of night accidents are due to drunken driving. However, in a State like Goa that thrives on alcohol-related tourism where booze flows more than packaged water, no stringent checks and balances have been in place to curb drunken driving. It is only gruesome accidents like the one at the Zuari River that brings in a fleeting thought on authorities to clamp down on drunken driving. The purpose is lost no sooner the mourning dies down, and it is business back as usual.
Perhaps the government is dragging its feet because of the adverse effect a police clampdown on drunken driving can have on tourism, given the background that most tourists who hire cars and bikes could easily find themselves on the wrong end of the law. Moreover, the alcohometers, breathalysers and speed guns which were prominent with police manning the roads some years ago have disappeared, and assurances of new equipment coming have remained only on paper.
While Goa is dragging its feet, the world is fast moving towards tackling the nuisance of drunk driving. For example, the US contemplates equipping vehicles with advanced drink-driving prevention technology. The system can either monitor a driver’s performance and detect if the person is impaired or check the driver’s Blood Alcohol Concentration limits. Elsewhere, other technologies are being developed based on sensors that detect the level of alcohol and touch-based system that uses sensors in the ignition or gear shift.
The AI-monitored enforcement system to be introduced from May 22 along 13 critical points in Panaji, Merces junction, Porvorim and Dona Paula is a welcome move. Still, the State will have to show patience with the change given the inconsistencies in the system seen so far, especially at the Merces junction, where it was first introduced in March.
Moreover, Goan traffic will need time to become conscious of being remotely monitored and get accustomed to being disciplined all the time, even when there are no police on vigil. Introducing AI cameras for traffic could be the way forward because there are benefits. Bengaluru has installed around 7,000 cameras at various locations, and other States like Kerala, Delhi, and Mumbai have been gradually making the change.
In the fast-evolving world, AI surveillance cameras have shown results. Goa has taken a positive step towards bringing discipline to roads and eliminating corruption, another major roadblock.
