Tourist couple escape with minor injuries after crash

MAPUSA

A tourist couple escaped with minor injuries after their rented car crashed into a telephone pole and a roadside tree on the Siolim-Marna road early Wednesday morning, adding to the growing list of accidents involving tourists driving rented vehicles in North Goa.

The self-accident occurred at around 7 am when the couple was travelling from Siolim towards Mapusa.

According to local sources, the vehicle first struck a telephone pole before veering off the road and ramming into a tree. The impact left the car extensively damaged.

Fortunately, traffic on the stretch was sparse at the time and no other vehicle was involved in the accident. The tourists reportedly suffered only minor injuries.

Residents who reached the spot alleged that the couple appeared to be disoriented following the crash. After the accident, the tourists allegedly abandoned the damaged vehicle and began walking towards Mapusa.

Police later traced the occupants and registered an accident case. Officials said a challan was issued in accordance with provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.

The latest mishap comes amid increasing concern over the frequency of accidents involving tourists driving rent-a-cars and rent-a-bikes across the State. While self-accidents account for a significant number of such incidents, local residents and road safety activists have repeatedly raised questions about whether many visitors are adequately familiar with Goa's road conditions before getting behind the wheel.

"Every few weeks we hear of another rent-a-car or rent-a-bike accident. Many visitors are driving on unfamiliar roads, often relying entirely on GPS navigation and sometimes ignoring local traffic conditions," said a local resident who witnessed Wednesday's aftermath.

Road safety campaigners have called for a review of the State's rent-a-vehicle policy, including stricter verification of driving credentials, mandatory safety briefings by rental operators and greater enforcement against drunken driving.

Some have suggested that rental agencies should be required to provide tourists with basic information on Goa's road network, accident-prone stretches and local traffic regulations before handing over vehicles.

Police officials, meanwhile, maintain that enforcement remains a key challenge.

"Most accidents can be traced to overspeeding, negligent driving, distraction or driving under the influence of alcohol. Drivers, whether tourists or locals, must exercise caution, particularly on narrow and winding roads," an official said.

Tourism stakeholders fear that unless stronger preventive measures are introduced, the recurring accidents involving rented vehicles could not only endanger lives but also tarnish Goa's image as a safe tourist destination.