Amresh Parab
Panaji
While the state recorded nearly a six per cent drop in road accident fatalities in 2025, deaths have risen by over 13 per cent in the first two months of this year compared to the corresponding period last year.
Between January and February this year, 41 persons were killed in road accidents, as against 36 during the same period last year. In 2024, road accidents claimed 286 lives, which declined to 269 in 2025, marking a drop of around 5.94 per cent.
In the first two months of this year, the state recorded 426 road accidents, of which 40 were fatal, resulting in 41 deaths. Among those killed, two-wheeler riders accounted for the highest number at 25, followed by drivers at five, pillion riders at four and others.
Over the last five years, 643 two-wheeler riders died due to head injuries sustained in road accidents. More than 57 per cent of them were wearing helmets at the time. Police data showed that from 2021 to January 2026, 371 of the 643 riders were wearing protective gear, while 272 were not. During the same period, four pillion riders died due to head injuries, of whom three were wearing helmets and one was not.
Police said various steps have been taken to enforce traffic rules and reduce accidents. They said the focus is on quality prosecution, which has a direct impact on reducing violations. Special drives are conducted periodically targeting offences such as overspeeding, use of mobile phones while driving and drunken driving. Personnel are deployed at strategic locations and accident-prone zones to monitor and regulate traffic flow.
Police said awareness programmes on road safety are conducted in schools, colleges and public places, and proposals for road improvements have been submitted to the civic bodies concerned. They added that modern gadgets are being used to enforce traffic laws.
