the goan I network
PANAJI
Freshly disclosed figures from Goa Police reveal the worrying fact that the gruesome fatal accidents witnessed over the last week were not exceptions to the trend. These unfortunate mishaps were, in fact, representative of the worrying 14 per cent increase in the fatality and severity of road accidents in the state.
According to the data revealed by Goa Police
Department, the total number of accidents in 2019 stood at 2,440, a decline from 3,709 accidents registered in 2018. Yet, the number of fatal accidents has shockingly risen from 248 in 2018 to 283 in 2019, registering an increase of 14.11 per cent. The number of deaths
due to road accidents has also risen in a corresponding manner.
In 2019, 297 persons died in road accidents across the state, an average of four deaths every five days.
A perusal of the numbers shows that persons travelling on two-wheelers are around 70 per cent more likely to die in a road accident as against the 10 per cent fatality rate in road accidents
involving four wheelers. Of the 297 road accident deaths, 213 were two-wheeler users and only 29
were travelling in four wheelers. This trend further underlines the urgent need for safe and
disciplined use of two-wheelers and also the use of helmets.
The available figures also speak volumes about the deplorable levels of safety of pedestrians on
Goan roads. In 2019, 50 pedestrians lost their lives in road accidents. The number has remained
steady since 2018.
The number of motor vehicle cases booked by traffic police has also shown an increase of 14 per
cent. A total of Rs 10.70 crore fine was collected from Goans for violation of the Motor Vehicle
Act, 1998, an increase of Rs 62.64 lakhs since the previous year. But the police action appears to
have failed miserably in arresting the growing threat to life on Goan roads.
