MARGAO
South Goa district has reported a marked decline in the number of accidents, including fatal accidents, as on July 31 this calendar year compared to the corresponding period last year.
Presenting the statistics before the South Goa Road Safety Traffic Committee meeting in the South District Collectorate on Friday, senior traffic official DySP Rajendra Prabhudesai said there’s been a reduction in the number of fatalities by 14 per cent. He said the number of accidents has also come down during the corresponding period.
DySP Prabhudesai said the Traffic Cell, Margao, has set a target to further bring down the accident rate by 20 per cent through strict enforcement of traffic rules against violators.
Saying that accidents occur because of overspeeding, drunken driving, besides driving without helmets and without fastening seat belts, Prabhudesai said the Traffic Cell, Margao, had booked around 7,360 cases for overspeeding, 1,537 for drunken driving, 1,195 for driving without helmets, and 1,323 cases against drivers without seat belts. Incidentally, the police have booked around 200 cases in South Goa against motorists for modifying silencers.
“The accident rate has come down because of strict enforcement. We expect further reduction in the accident rate as there will be no let-up in the enforcement drive,” he said.
Meanwhile, consumer rights activists made a strong plea to the district road safety panel to crack down on bikers riding with fake helmets. GOACAN Secretary Lorna Fernandes also called for a drive by the concerned agencies to ensure that fake helmets are removed from the market.
A suggestion was made to call a meeting with officials of the airport and railways to spread road safety messages at railway stations and airports.
Lorna also raised the issue of the proposed Verna flyover, demanding to know whether the flyover will help remove the accident black spots at the Pirnim junction. She told the media that the district road safety panel has decided to call a special meeting with PWD officials.
Members also raised the issue of parking by heavy trucks along the Margao-Cuncolim stretch of the National Highway, calling upon the authorities to work out a solution.
Members also called for action on complaints regarding modified silencers in Margao in particular and South Goa in general, demanding strict measures to abate the nuisance posed by the modified silencers.
