It was indeed a black Saturday. Goa’s killer roads continued to snuff out lives, as on the day four persons reportedly died in two separate accidents reported at Mandrem and Bicholim. In the first accident that took place at Mandrem involving a truck, goods rickshaw and two-wheeler, two ladies both relatives died while another lady was seriously injured. In the second accident reported at Nanora in Bicholim, two youths lost their lives after their two-wheeler collided with a car. While in the past road accidents would result in injuries, now there seems to be a sharp rise in the number of fatalities. It seems prudent for the Goa government to come up with a white paper on road safety. The white paper can be used as a framework for the authorities to work on a strategy to prevent road accidents. This includes safe infrastructure, strict implementation of road safety practice, emergency medical services to victims of road accidents. The white paper needs to be prepared by experts in the field who should offer strategies that, if implemented, would move the state towards zero road fatalities.
