Goa records a dozen accidents a day

Goa records a dozen accidents a day
Preetu Nair | TNN

Panaji: Goa’s affinity with accidents continues. According to the latest data collected by the state’s traffic department, 12 accidents are reported everyday. In the first six months this year, 2,185 accidents have occurred. That’s 76 more than in the corresponding period last year.
Peruse the detailed document that registers everything—from the age of the vehicles involved to the reasons for the accidents—and the findings get worse.
The most productive age group—21 to 34 years—continues to be the chief perpetrators and often the main victims of fatal accidents.
Overspeeding and road rage, including refusal to give right of way, are the top causes of accidents, and the guilty are mostly educated, private vehicle owners who possess regular licences. The state’s internal roads and residential and open areas record the maximum accidents. Roads around institutions aren’t safe either. In the last six months 141 accidents have been reported near schools and colleges, a figure that’s in keeping with the 262 and 203 accidents recorded in the same zones in the last two years. Ironically, in areas that have police or traffic lights in control, the number of accidents have upped from 62 in 2006 to 90 last year. The majority of persons killed or grievously injured are motorcycle drivers followed by pedestrians. Alcohol consumption led to 14 accidents in the first six months of 2008, however, no one was killed. There’s a catch here, said officials.
“When a fatal accident occurs and the driver is drunk, he normally runs away from the spot and surrenders the next day. By the time the police sends the person for a medical examination there is no trace of alcohol,” said SP (traffic) Arvind Gawas.
Explaining the increase in accidents, he added, “If a fatal accident occurs, nothing deterrent happens to the driver. Neither does the accused go to jail nor does he have to pay compensation to the deceased or injured’s family nor does he lose his driving license.”
ROAD TO PERDITION
Majority of perpetrators as well as victims of fatal accidents are from the most productive age group of 21 to 34 years
Overspeeding and road rage most common causes. Guilty are mostly educated, private vehicle owners The bitter truth about ACCIDENTS
With 12 accidents registered everyday, the traffic cell’s latest report is sobering, finds
Preetu Nair
The myths have been cleared. Accidents are not weather, time or road condition specific alone. In fact, contrary to popular belief, most mishaps in the last few years have occurred when the weather’s been splendid, the sun’s been shining and the roads good.
In fact, the causes of accidents, on the rise according to the latest traffic department report, are more driver and age related. In case of the latter, of both the driver and the vehicle. And the pointer is tilted heavily towards young.
Take the perpetrators of accidents for instance. Those aged between 21 and 34 years caused accidents for reasons most associated with “young blood” — overspeeding and ego. In fact, road rage among this age group, has shot up alarmingly from 129 (119 dead) in 2006 to 141 (28 dead) in 2007 and 67 (39 dead) in the first half of this year.
Sadly, most of the victims killed were in the same age group, and the vehicles involved were young — between one and four years — as well.
Incidentally, The rise in fatal accidents — from 235 in 2003 to 322 in 2007 — and in accidents in general — from 3,707 in 2006 to 4,020 in 2007 and 2185 till June this year — has led traffic police to step up vigilance.
Till June this year, 9,748 persons have been fined for overspeeding. That’s a massive leap from the 4,178 fined for the same offence in 2007. Driving under the influence of alcohol has also attracted 967 fines this year, as compared to just 73 in 2007.
The fines however, haven’t deterred the number of accidents. On the contrary, mishaps recorded in the first half of this year are 76 more than the 2109 recorded in the corresponding period last year.
Explaining the disparity, Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Arvind Gawas said the deterrents weren’t strong enough.
While overspeeding carried a maximum fine of Rs 400, drunk drivers were fined Rs 2,000 and could spend up to 6 months in prison.
“If a fatal accident occurs, nothing deterrent happens to the driver. Neither does the accused go to jail nor does he have to pay compensation to the deceased or injured’s family, and nor does he lose his driving license,” said Gawas.
Meanwhile, clearing misconceptions, the weather was perfect when 2046 accidents that killed 166 persons occurred this year. The driver was at fault — as against the road being bad or animals straying onto tarmac — in 1593 accidents recorded till June. And contrary to popular belief that lack of visibility at night causes accidents, most mishaps occurred during lunch time and twilight (rush hour in cities) when natural light is dim and headlights often malfunction. TNN
ROAD RATTLE
Lunch time and twilight — rush hour in urban areas — are when most accidents occur
Internal city and village roads, and open areas, record the most number of accidents
Roads near schools and colleges are not very safe either with 141 accidents being recorded in these zones till June this year
With 403 (42 dead) accidents registered, January has been the most accident prone month for the first half of this year. The month of May has carried the infamy for the last two years

September 9, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition