In the past month or so Goa has witnessed numerous road accidents, many of them ending in fatalities. Goa could well become the accident capital of the country given the number of accidents per lakh population.
It must be said that road accidents can be avoided if the one behind the wheel cares for others on the roads and drives defensively and responsibly.
The “Sadak Suraksha Abhiyan” initiative was launched in January last year to raise awareness on the importance of road safety and encourage responsible behaviour on roads to help save precious lives.
The campaign focuses on cultivating empathy behind the wheel, aiming to produce positive behaviour changes by sensitizing citizens to the value of every life and rewarding safe driving practices.
It has been noted that the likelihood of saving lives drastically improves when victims receive urgent medical attention within the first hour, commonly known as the Golden Hour.
Empathy is the need of the hour. To facilitate prompt medical assistance and protect Good Samaritans who render aid, the Good Samaritan Law was enacted in 2016. This legislation shields individuals from legal or financial liabilities when assisting accident victims.
Subsequently, in 2019, the government of India, as part of the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act, introduced a section aimed at further ensuring protection for Good Samaritans.
