Tourists are known to ride roughshod over the state’s traffic laws. But why should the state be adopting a condescending attitude to such frivolities
News reports in a section of the press about two unrelated incidents, but which nevertheless served to shock the readers, had me wondering at the absurdity of that trait in people which tend to make them devils when behind the wheels of their automobiles.
In the first instance, Porvorim police penalised a tourist, the driver of a rent-a-car (SUV), for performing stunts in a moving car near the O’Coqueiro junction. The driver was traced along with the SUV and brought to the police station. He was subsequently penalised under the Motor Vehicle Act for rash and negligent driving.
Police said a viral video on social media showed the accused standing in the SUV and controlling the steering with his leg.
For that matter, car and bike stunts by audacious youngsters have been keeping the police busy. Over the last few months, the cops have chased down quite a few of them and booked them for endangering lives.
Local papers mention about roads in the state which have turned popular overnight after Bollywood producers chose stretches of the thoroughfares for shooting parts of their films.
And now with foreigners performing daredevil acts on their bikes on these bitumen-laid expanses to a full-house of cheering spectators, the authorities are at their wits’ end figuring out ways to put an end to this nuisance.
Rash driving and performing stunts on public roads should be severely dealt with.
But what is it that compels the youth to exhibit their adventurous streak on public roads indulging in death-defying stunts and risking not only their lives but the lives of others as well! Is it their passion and enthusiasm to do something unique and great that is the driving force!
Worse still is the trend where videos of people doing heart-stopping stunts on cars and bikes go viral in no time.
But surprisingly, age is no bar when it comes to endeavouring such ‘thrilling feats’. The tourist in Goa who tried steering his SUV with his legs was reportedly in his forties!
The other incident served to be another unfortunate addition to the statistics of road fatalities in the state!
A two-wheeler rider lost his life after a Sport Utility Vehicle knocked him down at Porvorim in the early hours of Tuesday. The private SUV which was ‘illegally rented’ and was being driven by a tourist who was under the influence of alcohol.
I have put emphasis on the term ‘illegally rented’ purely for the reason that this practise is very common in Goa and continues unhindered without any fear of legal action.
It is only when such accidents garner headlines that authorities are forced to mull over these incongruities and immediately swing into action.
But all this alacrity the department displays vanish no sooner the matter under consideration disappears from public domain, only to be replaced by the same old ennui and indifference.
The traffic cell of Goa police have been periodically conducting special drives against private vehicles rented out to tourists. But these rigorous campaigns do not seem to be producing the desired results. The business runs under the nose of the system.
Although the police do manage to apprehend multiple offenders for unauthorised rentals of private bikes and cars, it is generally observed that the seriousness of the whole issue does not last longer than the duration of the drive.
For that matter, these days the roads and thoroughfares in the state have more of rented cars and bikes competing with commercial and private vehicles for motoring space on the highways.
So much have the vehicles with black and yellow number plates come to be dreaded by local commuters that their ‘phobia’ tends to be an indication of the maniacal and suicidal ways of the drivers behind the wheels.
Somehow the rules and regulations established for commuters are simply overlooked by tourists who are more intent on weaving their way through the traffic unmindful of the distress they are causing others.
Two-wheelers with the pillion essaying the role of a navigator using the GPS in their mobile phones have been a risky proposition on the roads as well.
With the driver and ‘navigator’ deeply engrossed in the ‘route-finding’ manoeuvres, it is for the other commuters to stay clear of their erratic driving. Completely oblivious to the teeming traffic they have been grossly guilty of charting a completely disastrous course, almost always.
Overtaking from the left, right and centre, tourists have given a very bad account of themselves while travelling on Goan routes. Moreover, it is their arrogance at times which needs to come in for special mention.
With the police depending too much on AI-assisted traffic law violation detection systems to ensure adherence to regulations, it is at those bottlenecks along the way where there is usually a free-for-all.
Although known to be prone to accidents, the absence of traffic personnel to ensure safe vehicular movement at these points is indeed surprising!
If the traffic management authorities are to put their hearts and souls into their work, the haphazard flow of traffic could well be streamlined. But other than booking traffic infringements, the cops seem to lack enthusiasm in other traffic-related jobs assigned to them – or so it appears.
Besides, as members of the public will concur; most of them are seen glued on to their mobile handsets even whilst discharging their duties!
However, with a system that appears to be ‘highly tolerant’ of the ‘quirks’ and annoying habits of visitors to the state, there is not much that can be done to alleviate the situation.
Tourists are known to ride roughshod over the state’s traffic laws. But why should the state be adopting a condescending attitude to such frivolities!
Promotion of tourism is definitely the need of the hour. But does it entail the necessity to put up with the antics of the ‘boisterous and social media-savvy tourists’ who think nothing of disturbing the peace and quiet of the region!
