Goa is at the top of the list of states when it comes to road accidents. The graph of road accidents and fatalities has not just caught up with, but also breached the pre-pandemic level. The dramatic traffic penalties under the amended Motor Vehicles Act made headlines, and it was claimed that the fines would curb road accidents. But neither the government nor authorities chant that ‘All is well’.
This underscores the urgency of adopting a comprehensive approach to address the contributing factors to these accidents, including speeding, reckless driving, drunken driving, and non-compliance with traffic regulations. The risk on highways can be mitigated through electronic enforcement, which is mandated by Section 136A of the Motor Vehicles Act and touted by the centre as one of the key features of the 2019 amendments.
Moreover, the Goan road has become a death knell to commuters due to the worst roads. And if there are any deficiencies on the part of road owning or any other agency, the police should register a case under sec. 268 of BNS, which can also include sec. 304(2) BNS.
