MAPUSA
Goa’s image as a safe and carefree holiday destination is facing another serious test.
A family holiday turned tragic on Sunday when a 55-year-old tourist from Punjab was killed and his son critically injured after the scooter they were travelling on was involved in a head-on collision with a tourist taxi at Baga.
The deceased, Sanjay Juneja, was riding pillion behind his son Kunal Juneja (23) on a Fascino scooter when the accident occurred on Baga road in the early hours of Sunday.
Sanjay died on the spot, while Kunal suffered serious injuries and was rushed to the Goa Medical College and Hospital for treatment.
Calangute Police have detained the driver of the Ertiga tourist taxi in connection with the accident.
The tragedy comes against the backdrop of growing concerns over road accidents in Goa, where increasing tourist traffic, reckless driving and a casual attitude towards traffic rules are raising questions over how safe the State really is for those who come here on holiday.
Goa’s roads have increasingly become a dangerous mix of tourist vehicles, rented two-wheelers, speeding and poor road discipline.
Tourists hiring scooters and cars is an integral part of Goa’s tourism culture. But authorities and residents have repeatedly witnessed visitors riding or driving with little regard for traffic rules and basic safety.
From overloaded two-wheelers to tourists performing dangerous stunts for selfies, instances of irresponsible driving have become increasingly common at popular tourist spots.
At times, tourists have even been seen travelling with people sitting in the boot or on the bonnet of moving vehicles, apparently more interested in capturing photographs than their own safety.
The disregard for rules has also spilled onto Goa’s beaches, with tourists routinely attempting to drive vehicles onto sandy stretches, despite restrictions. Vehicles getting stuck in the sand have become a familiar sight, sometimes requiring rescue operations.
While reckless tourist behaviour remains a concern, the latest fatality also raises larger questions about enforcement and road discipline in a State that receives millions of visitors every year.
