BHARATI PAWASKAR
Birth and death are two sides of the same coin called life. Both exist, and the inhalation and exhalation of breaths decide if a person is going to live or die. When we inhale a breath, it gives us one more moment to live, and when we exhale it’s the life that passes away from the body and if we don’t inhale again, we are gone. So life is the journey between these inhalations and exhalations. Some say our breaths are numbered, and each of us comes with a certain count, and when that count is over, the person leaves. All of this may sound philosophical, but it’s a fact that life can end at any time if we do not value it. That’s when accidental deaths occur.
Whatever reasons one may give, it is true that accidental deaths are rising in Goa, which is slowly gaining the tag of the accident capital. Road accidents happen across the State, and not all who die on the roads are Goans. Tourists often take ‘rent-a-bike’ or ‘rent-a-car’, and unfamiliar with city or village roads, they drive recklessly, get into fatal accidents and die on the spot. Negligent driving, overspeeding, overtaking carelessly, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or riding without a helmet or seatbelt are some of the reasons behind these accidents.
Many are still unaware that not just the rider, but the pillion rider also needs to wear a helmet to prevent head injuries in case of a fall, points out a traffic police official. According to Goa Police, there were 286 deaths in road accidents in 2024, out of which 130 were due to not using protective gear like helmets and seatbelts, with most victims being youth under 35. Of these 130 deaths, 115 were of people who did not bother to wear a helmet.
Apart from these deaths, another 148 people suffered serious injuries, and 370 had minor injuries. Out of the 1,041 injured, the majority were men. “While we, females, are generally blamed to be confused drivers, we are the ones who try to drive carefully but become victims and get injured when someone else carelessly hits our vehicle,” claims Harshal Rane, a teacher.
“Today, everyone seems to be in haste, in a mad rush, and not wanting to waste a single extra minute in traffic or at signals, wants to reach their respective destinations as soon as possible. No one cares to leave a few minutes early, stay calm, avoid road rage, drive cautiously and reach on time. People are absolutely ignorant that this rush can be deadly and within seconds, can lead them straight to death,” observes Rajesh Naik, an insurance agent in his fifties.
Parent of a teenage son, Rajesh is reluctant to buy a two-wheeler for him or get him a learning licence, as he fears that once a teenager gets a vehicle, only luck can save him. “I offer life covers to people, and also deal with accidental death claims. I have witnessed how difficult it is for parents to lose their young children to sudden and unexpected death.”
But parents often become helpless and give in to the demands of their children for a two-wheeler or car. Francisco Fernandes had to buy two-wheelers for his son and daughter when they turned 16-17, as his job as a shop salesperson did not allow him to drop and pick them up from college daily.
“First I myself taught them driving, before putting them in a driving school. We procured learning licences, and warning them never to overspeed, I handed over their two-wheelers. For my daughter Ashmica, I purchased an e-bike and for my son Ashley, a scooter. We can’t shrug off our duties as parents, and we also have to understand that if we don’t teach our children road discipline, they may ride someone else’s bike without our knowledge and meet with an accident. So it’s always better to be a wise, vigilant and careful parent,” states Francisco. Luckily, the lessons he taught Ashmica and Ashley helped, and both are responsible while riding.
What leads to accidents is carelessness on the road. It’s not always the rider or driver who dies in an accident. A pedestrian walking or standing by the road can also be hit and killed. Sometimes it is due to brake failure, the driver’s negligence, or the vehicle going out of control. “If noticed before time, technical faults can be corrected, but man-made mistakes can take lives. I lost a dear friend in an unfortunate car accident on the day of his birthday. A truck coming from the opposite side hit his car and because the airbag didn’t work in time, the steering hit his chest and he died on the spot. Till date I have not overcome the grief of losing him,” shares Mangesh Revankar, an estate developer.
Teenagers often talk on their mobiles while driving cars or riding bikes. It is dangerous to talk on the phone, especially while holding the handset instead of using Bluetooth or earphones. A homemaker, Trupti Alve’s advice to her son Mayank is, “Put the speaker on and talk, that too, if there’s emergency or urgency. Leisure chatting is a strict no. Talking on phone is not advisable while driving as it can distract, making you lose control of the vehicle. Life is precious, and once lost, cannot be regained.”
