CRIME REVIEW
More than 100 accidents, 23 deaths and numerous persons sustaining multiple injuries and fractures! This is the grim road safety record of Goa in the first 22 days of the year.
As road safety was unacceptable for January 2023, The Goan reviews from all perspectives some of the major road accidents.
Reckless and negligent riding/driving has been a major contributor to accidents, with foggy weather creating dangerous driving conditions. But while accidents due to negligence of a rider/driver results in FIR, albeit a bailable offense; negligence on the part of government agencies – courtesy, pathetic road conditions, substandard work, irresponsible digging on multiple occasions and lack of visible signages are ignored with no penal action against the concerned public servants.
Here are some case studies.
Incident 1
Around 1pm near Sai Nagar in Vasco on January 20, 68-year-old Razia Begum Mujawar who was crossing the road to go to her residence was knocked down by a car. The driver then sped down the busy street and dragged her till it narrowed so much that he had to stop around 30 metres away. She died of multiple injuries. Had it not been for some locals who chased the driver, the police might have been still searching for him.
Reason: Accused Amar Halmalkar claims the accident was due to brake failure. Transport Department will inspect the car.
Accused: He walks out of the police station minutes after the “formality” arrest for a bailable offense was carried out. The car was challaned thrice in the past including once for overspeeding but…
Incident 2
A young mother of two, excited about completing her driving lessons, was crushed to death by a tree on the last day of her driving class in Sanguem on January 5.
The weak Gulmohar Tree had been leaning dangerously. Negligence by the authorities led to the tragedy, which shattered the 32-year-old’s family. The Goan has learnt that government agencies slept for five years over repeated requests to prune the branches or cut the tree, until this misfortune. The driving instructor sustained injuries.
“Several letters were sent to Range Forest Office, Municipality, Sub Divisional Magistrate to take action under Section 133 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, but there was no reply. Is this not criminal negligence on the part of the government officials,” questioned a local. The Goan glanced through the letters from 2017 with the last communique in September 2022. All in vain and a precious life lost. No suo-motu cognisance of serious offense is taken, unlike other offenses but the department awaits complaint from the deceased’s family.
Reason: Tree collapse.
Accused: Sanguem police register a case of unnatural death. None named as accused and a stoic silence to identify concerned government official/s and/or municipal council responsible for the incident. No mention of internal inquiry as well.
Incident 3
A Colombian national died in a self-accident while on a two-wheeler at Arambol around 3pm on January 20. The accident happened at the spot where the Electricity Department is carrying out work and the contractor dug up the road with allegedly no safety measures undertaken.
Traffic police confirmed that no precautionary measures had been taken to prevent mishaps at the work site and neither any signages placed for commuters. “She skidded on the gravel and died of head injuries,” an official said admitting negligence on the part of the rider as well, as she was not wearing a helmet.
Reason: No safety measures by the agency and victim did not wear a helmet.
Accused: Pernem police claim no FIR is registered as it is a self-accident. Criminal negligence by concerned agency ignored.
The three incidents are self-explanatory but the government is yet to take these matters seriously. Of total accidents this month, self-accidents are the highest where the rider/driver is at fault.
In two such incidents, a 32-year-old constable died of head injuries after he crashed into a stationary truck while en route home. Similarly, a 25-year-old working in a starred hotel banged into the divider at Dhargalim in a self-accident. Both were not wearing helmets.
Concerns
1: Not all riders/ drivers are subjected to alcohol test
2: No speed radars at all highways and main roads all day/night
3: Traffic cops are not posted on duty at prime areas during night hours
4: Poor or no signages
5: Special drives against traffic violations are short-lived
6: Staff crunch across main Traffic cells
7: When rules are amended, there's no amendment to rules where an accused driver is charged for non-bailable offense
8: Fate of reports prepared after every accident lies in cold storage
9: Silence on outcome of road safety committee meetings, accident analyses
10: Hoarding display causing obstruction to drivers not removed
