80% Goa accidents due to drunken driving: CM

Panaji: From January to mid-October, there were 206 fewer accidents compared to the same period last year; however, total fatalities increased by two persons, totalling 252 deaths so far this year. This was revealed by CM Pramod Sawant on Monday, speaking at the Goa road safety week inauguration.

He addressed the growing concern over road safety in Goa, revealing that an average of one person dies daily in road accidents. He said that the state experiences 40-50 accidents each day, with a minimum of ten individuals admitted to the Goa Medical College daily due to accident-related injuries.

“In Goa, 80% of road accidents are due to drunken driving. To enhance safety in the public transport system, transport authorities should check drivers of interstate public vehicles entering Goa to ensure that they are not driving under the influence of alcohol,” he said.

“I would therefore say, bhivpachi garaz asa,” he said, straying from his conventional statement of ‘bhivpachi garaz na’ during the Covid-19 pandemic. He pointed out the major reasons for road accidents as drunk driving, using phones while driving, performing stunts, and overspeeding.

Elaborating further, transport minister Mauvin Godinho announced the installation of AI-enabled cameras, including night vision technology, for improved accountability and reduction in accidents. “AI-enabled cameras can give us real-time data of vehicles across Goa. We are going to implement it across the main areas of the state by early next year. I encourage all types of public transport to come on a digital platform so that there is accountability. You cannot blame the system and then agitate when we try to change the system,” he said.

Godinho further said that “Goa can almost be classified as an accident state” owing to the rising number of fatalities. “We have done a study on road accidents, and we need coordination between the transport dept, PWD, and Goa police’s traffic cell to take a decision. We have identified black spots, and more than 50% have been rectified. We need funding to rectify the others, which we will do in due course of time,” he said.

“PWD and transport dept need to be proactive because they are responsible for road safety. They should go on the field every day. Every AE responsible for his section or area should be directly held responsible for potholes in the area,” he added.