Two aged women reportedly died in two separate road accidents on a tragic Friday. One at KTC bus stand where a woman came under the wheels of a bus and in another accident reported along the national highway in Porvorim a woman riding pillion died after she was knocked down from the two wheeler by a truck. The year 2024 has started on a bad note as the number of fatalities due to road accidents is on the rise. It is learnt that Goa is averaging a road fatality every 48 hours.
This is a very disturbing figure for a small state like Goa. The state faces an array of road safety challenges. These include bad road engineering, black spots, speeding, and irresponsible driving by tourists. Enforcement of the law and improved infrastructure are of utmost importance to reduce the number of road accidents. The influx of tourists who indulge in drink-and-drive adds to the problem. The authorities concerned seem to be at wit’s end as regards how to curb this escalating menace. Several young lives have been lost in road accidents. Use of mobiles while driving slows one’s response. It is a major distraction while driving.
The road infrastructure in the state seems unable to cope with the sudden increase in the number of vehicles. Then there are the private transport buses which halt on busy roads without warning. Rent-a-car services also create mayhem with outsiders who indulge in drunken driving, signal jumping and indulge in stunts in moving cars. Strict law enforcement can go a long way in curtailing the risks to road users and pedestrians. Public awareness on road safety has to be conducted at regular intervals. Stringent tests need to be in place while issuing the driving license. Everyone seems to be in a tearing hurry. Defensive driving should be the order of the day.
