2010 saw over 12 accidents daily on Goa's roads

TNN, Feb 8, 2011, 05.12am IST
PANAJI: Despite several traffic safety drives and an increase in the number of persons being booked for traffic violations in Goa, the state's roads witnessed more than 12 accidents per day and six fatalities every week in the year 2010.

While from January 1 to December 31, 2009, there were 4,164 accidents and 310 fatalities on Goa's roads, about 4572 accidents and 327 fatalities were registered in 2010. The year 2008 saw 318 fatalities and 4,178 accidents on Goan roads, while 2007 witnessed 322 road fatalities.


Incidentally, while the number of accidents in 2010 has increased in North Goa, the number of fatalities have reduced. However, in South Goa, the number of accidents and fatalities have both increased, said sources.

Sources in the Goa police traffic department said that motorcyclists accounted for the maximum number of fatalities, with most of the victims belonging to the productive age group of 20 to 35 years. Moreover, the highest number of accidents took place on national highways and on straight roads, with a majority of the mishaps occurring due to the driver's fault, followed by dangerous or rash driving, over-speeding, bad condition of the vehicle and drunken driving, the sources added.

Data obtained under the Right to Information ( RTI) Act from the Goa police traffic department reveals that the number of persons booked for traffic violations was 2,63,911 in 2010, an increase from 2009, where 2,60,911 traffic violators were booked and 2008 where about 2,47,455 persons were caught.

Though the traffic police admit that drunken driving is a cause of worry on Goan roads and have invested in alcoholmeters to keep a check on the menace, the number of persons booked for drunken driving in Goa in the year 2010 was just 1141. Meanwhile, 5901 people were booked for rash and negligent driving last year.

When contacted, superintendent of police (traffic) Arvind Gawas said, "We are making every possible effort to reduce accidents and fatalities on Goan roads. However, the conduct of drivers must improve and road safety must be accepted as the collective responsibility of all road users to reduce accidents."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/2010-saw-over-12-accidents-daily-on-Goas-roads/articleshow/7448262.cms