MARGAO
The total number of road accidents has touched 127 in the state after the death of two persons on Sunday, with statistics showing the death of one person every 22 hours.
GOACAN convenor Roland Martins has underscored the need to take road safety awareness in the 191 panchayats and the 14 Municipal Councils in view of the fact that 90 lakh tourists have visited the State so far.
Launching the United National Global Road Safety Awareness week at the Margao Municipal garden on Monday, Martins further stressed the need to make available the accident data to all the panchayats and the municipal bodies to make the elected representatives aware of how many youngsters have lost their lives while hundreds have been left grievously injured with permanent disabilities and under the care of their parents.
“When 90 lakh tourists are visiting the state, we have to gear up on the road safety front as well. The local bodies need to erect correct signages, which will guide the tourists as well as the locals. Unfortunately, this is not happening in the state,” he lamented.
He added: “When as many as 127 people have lost their lives in accidents from January till date this year, the situation is alarming. Statistics showed that one person is killed in a road accident in Goa every 22 hours.”
Martins said the time has come to shift the focus back on public transport, not just to decongest the roads from increasing traffic, but to save the lives of motorists, including two-wheeler riders. “Public transport offers a ray of hope if only the government is ready to improve the system. Instead of travelling on two-wheelers, citizens may be drawn to public transport if there’s an improvement in the system,” he added.
