EDITORIAL
Road safety demands accountability from motorists and authorities alike, not blame
On average, the state witnessed nearly 600 traffic violations per day in the past five months, with riding without a helmet constituting over 45 per cent of the cases. During this period, fatalities due to road accidents dropped to 112 from 118 persons last year. Riders are among those most likely to die in road accidents. Of the 112 fatalities, 71 were riders. Last year, of the 118 fatalities, 70 were riders.
Statistics suggest that helmetless riding has become socially normalised in the state despite clear evidence that head injuries are the primary cause of rider fatalities. Those who have met with accidents will tell you that they were saved by a helmet. There is a societal aspect where riders feel that short distances justify skipping safety gear. Perhaps multi-generational education will help.
Every time an accident occurs, people are quick to blame the authorities for various reasons—bad roads, improper street lighting, road engineering issues, stray cattle, dogs and other animals on roads, etc. Motorists argue that they pay road and other related taxes and that it is the duty of the government to provide better road infrastructure. Agreed! But what about the accidents in which motorists are at fault? Accidents also occur due to over-speeding, using mobile phones while riding or driving, drunk driving or riding, and so on.
Blaming only the authorities will not work. But, in the same breath, we also want the government machinery not to take things lightly. One can say that riders are responsible for their safety, provided that the infrastructure is supportive. There is no doubt that the decision to ignore basic safety protocols—like wearing a helmet or adhering to speed limits—is a personal choice that endangers the rider and other road users. Looking at the numerous everyday traffic violations, the increase in fines for various traffic violations does not seem to have deterred motorists.
As per the road accident statistics of the first five months of 2025, 1,017 accidents occurred. This year, the figure increased to 1,094.
In July 2021, the state government notified The Goa Causes and Analysis of Motor Vehicle Accidents and Wayside Amenities on Highways Scheme, 2021. The objective was to provide for an in-depth study of the causes and analysis of accidents; wayside amenities on highways; traffic aid posts on highways; and truck parking complexes along highways and other amenities. The scheme mandates the constitution of the Road Engineering Committee, of which the Chief Engineer (National Highways, Roads and Bridges) is the chairperson. It comprises members from other departments, including Transport, PWD, Police, etc. It also mandates the constitution of a sub-committee.
More importantly, under the scheme, periodical inspections or self-road safety audits and maintenance are compulsory. It requires the jurisdictional office of the Assistant Engineer concerned to carry out a periodical inspection once every three months of the entire stretch of the road network within its jurisdiction, to ensure that all road safety measures are in place and well maintained. If anything is found to be in a shabby or deteriorated state, or is missing, then it is to be addressed.
Here, one would definitely raise a query. Are they really conducting periodical inspections or self-road safety audits? People will not believe so, as at a number of locations one can see roads that have been in bad shape for months. Locals and motorists have been raising this issue through various forums, including the mainstream media. Motorists have to follow traffic rules, but what about the government authorities?
