The latest decision of the Transport Department mandating speed governors on rent-a-car vehicles was long awaited, and it is a welcome move. Numerous dangerous stunts by tourists using rent-a-cab in our State have been reported in the media, like driving on the beaches, driving with people sitting on rooftops and bonnets, keeping vehicle doors open while driving on highways, etc in a seemingly holiday mood. Considering the numerous serious road accidents and fatalities involving these killer vehicles in our State, the most recent being the unfortunate accident on the Mandovi Bridge wherein a young man lost his life to drunken driving, it is high time our CM Pramod Sawant takes stock of this grave situation and makes a clear statement on the rent-a-cab services, including revised measures taken or planned by his Government to more effectively regulate these services and impose heavy penalties for unscrupulous operators and rash and negligent drivers rather than just cancelling their respective licenses. This will serve as a serious caution for the rent-a-cab operators and tourists using this service and hopefully improve traffic discipline and road safety while driving rent-a-cab vehicles.
