The recent tragic death of a 38-year-old, who fell into the Mandovi River after a rent-a-car driven by an Orissa tourist crashed into his motorcycle, has laid a focus on how, off late, these rented cabs are involved in rash and negligent driving and subsequent accidents. While the government has already swung into action “ though much later- the stakeholders feel that in absence of proper checks, heavy penalties and lack of enforcement, the tourists driving such vehicles feel “Goa main sab kuch chalta hai”.
The stakeholders are of clear view that clamping down on rent-a-cars and harassing the operators will affect the livelihood of hundreds of Goans but rather should put in place some stringent laws and penalties for those driving these vehicles in rash and negligent manner or under influence of alcohol. They believe that these vehicles need to be monitored 24x7 for violations. They also pointed out that if foreign tourists driving these vehicles can follow the rules why can’t the domestic travellers.
Hotelier Jack Sukhija said that the rent-a-car concept is acceptable worldwide but in Goa, what lacks is civic sense. “There are thousands of Goans who are making their living out of this business. If a car is involved in the accident or violation, I don’t think the owner should be held accountable or his business should be targeted,” he said.
“The driver driving these vehicles needs to have basic civic sense. There are rules in place but who follows? Also, our laws or penalties are not very stringent,” he added.
Sukhija also pointed out that its high time that the government either introduce good public transport 24x7 or introduce app based taxi services that will help in reducing prices and tourists would be more comfortable to use it.
Another hotelier Serafino Cotta blames the law enforcement agencies like police for their lack of approach towards rent-a-cars. “These cars are checked only at night and that too only at certain spots. There is no monitoring 24 hours. These domestic tourists drink and drive the entire day. It is very unfortunate to see no vehicles or drivers are booked for the offence. It’s only when these vehicles are involved in accidents, alcohol tests are done and then they are booked,” he said.
He even alleged that police and rent-a-car operators are hand-in-gloves to see that their vehicles are not stopped or fined. “This behaviour of the law enforcement agencies has forced tourists to think that 'Goa Main Sab Kuch Chalta hai',” he said.
Cotta also pointed out that rent-a-car operators do not follow Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) led down by the government while renting out their vehicles.
