PANAJI
With Goa’s roads virtually turning into death traps given that over 1000 accidents were recorded within just 131 days till May 11, 2023, the fatalities soared to 51.16 percent compared to the records during the corresponding period last year.
While a modest reduction by 7.09 percent in overall accidents may appear as a silver lining, the rising fatality rate has painted a bleaker picture.
The data of accident scenarios in Goa compiled for January 2023 to May 11, 2023 reveals 121 fatal and 90 grievous accidents out of a total 1061 accidents. The total fatal collisions claimed 130 lives, majority of which were due to head injuries whereas 127 persons were seriously injured.
The corresponding period from January 2022 to May 11, 2022 saw 1142 accidents, 81 fatal cases that killed 86 persons and 76 grievous accidents injuring 94 victims. This rise of 35.11 percent in grievous injuries has compounded the gravity of the situation.
The data further indicates that a maximum of 39 persons were killed in the very first month of this year followed by 30 in March, 29 in February and 27 in April. Majority of these killed were two-wheeler riders.
Despite the Goa police claiming to have intensified traffic enforcement measures in response to the surge in accidents, the total number of cases booked under the Motor Vehicles Act is lower compared to the previous year’s corresponding period. Records show that 1, 69,537 cases are booked whereas it was 2, 05,828 during the same period last year.
However, there has been a significant increase in the amount collected through fines with a 163 percent jump considering the revised penalty rates imposed by the Central government. The Traffic police have collected Rs 10.43 crore approx from January to May 11, 2023 as against Rs 3.96 approx during the same period last year.
Meanwhile, an elderly man in Siolim has been hospitalized with critical injuries after his bike fell on the Marna-Siolim road where the laying of underground cabling is underway.
As per the police, the victim rider Shabir Vaid is in critical yet stable condition. Sources said that in the ongoing works, the concerned contractor has failed to barricade the digging area and has neither installed signages nor placed marshals to guide the motorists.
