PANJIM: Road Safety Week is observed year after year. A few functions and drives are organized during the week. But is there any incremental reduction of road accidents and fatalities? In this edition of Street Voices we asked people does road safety week become a token exercise if no awareness and strong decisions are taken to prevent violations?
Our Goans follow the rules. But the government also has to fulfil its responsibilities. Government has to repair the roads. Traffic Police do not keep a proper watch at traffic signals. And the place where police are required they do not reach there.
The Bardez coastal belt in in total chaos. It is mainly the tourists who do not follow the rules. They drive and overtake from anyside of the road. The transport minister and the traffic police have to take control, coordinate and put road safety and order in place.Peter D’Souza, Activist
Traffic safety week is a token exercise. Whatever is done these days –rallies, programmes, speeches, these are only for show. Traffic Safety has to be ensured on the ground. Regarding awareness, people by and large are aware of safety measures. It is just that they are habituated to take things lightly. Not wearing a helmet, going triple seat, not wearing a seat belt, driving into no entry zone or rash driving.
People do know what is right and what is wrong. It is just that it is not being followed. This can be ensured largely by continuous enforcement.Raj Vaidya, Resident of Panjim
During the eight days, police try to create awareness about wearing helmets, seat belts, etc. If people do not know the traffic rules, how will they follow them? Why do I say this? Because whoever applies for a licence to the RTO liberally gets a licence.
Most of them don’t know the rules, nor do they have control over their vehicles. Nobody knows about this. This time it appears that rules are being enforced and it appears that fatalities may go down.Dilip Naik, Convenor, Road Safety Forum