the goan I network
MARGAO
In a bid to bring down the accident rate in the State, the Sub-Committee of the District Consumer Protection Council has on Friday decided to harness youth power and rope in artists, writers and poets to create road safety awareness in the State during the ensuing Road Safety Week.
After a marathon meeting between the consumer activists and officials of the Transport department and Traffic police at the South Goa district police headquarters on Friday, the panel has decided to approach the organisers of the forthcoming Goa Yuva Mahotsav scheduled at the Ravindra Bhavan next week with special focus on spreading road safety education amongst the younger generation.
The panel has further decided to make special efforts to reach out to senior citizens and women given that a many a women and senior citizen have been a victim of road accidents in recent times, especially while crossing the roads and walking on the pavements.
Addressing the media after the meeting, consumer rights activist Roland Martins said the panel has decided to bring a change in road safety through youth power. “We have decided to harness youth power this year to reduce the accident rate. We will approach the organisers of Goa Yuva Mahotsav to raise the issue of accidents given that most of the victims of road accidents are youngsters,” he said.
Underlining the need to bring about a change in people’s mindset and behavioural change amongst the people, Martins said a system needs to be put in place with the cooperation of the consumers. Citing the case of the traffic congestion at the Margao traffic flyover because of the unauthorised halts by the passenger buses, he said the situation will improve if the consumers are educated that they cannot board the buses near the flyover.
During the week, the activists, traffic police and RTO will stress on the safety of senior citizens and women, who have fallen victims to road accidents. “Age is not on the side of senior citizens and crossing roads is not easy. Many a senior citizen and women, including pedestrians have been killed in road accidents while crossing the roads or walking on the pavements,” he added.
Saying the road safety committee of the Supreme Court is taking compliance from the State transport authorities on accidents, he said that things have started moving in the right direction after the intervention of the Apex court.
Conceding that traffic signages have not been put up in the panchayat areas for want of money, Martins said the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) has made provision for spending money up to an amount of Rs 2 lakh on roads and road safety in the villages. “The panchayats can no longer shy away from installing traffic signages for want of funds as the GPDP has made provision for funds on roads,” he added.
