PANAJI: In a shocking revelation, it has been found that two-third of the people who died in road accidents in 2022 were on two-wheelers. The state also witnessed a rise of almost 9% in road accidents during the year. As per the Goa police traffic cell data, 3,011 road accidents were reported in 2022, out of which 253 were fatal wherein 271 succumbed to injuries. A total number of 181 persons on two-wheelers died in the accidents while 51 pedestrians lost their lives.In 2021, 2,849 accidents were reported, out of which 218 were fatal. Almost 226 persons lost their lives. A total number of 152 persons on two-wheelers died while 36 pedestrians lost their lives. The highest number of accidents in North Goa were reported in the jurisdiction of Panaji police (211) followed by Mapusa (182) and Porvorim (157). Though Panaji to Mapusa via Porvorim route is the busiest for traffic movement, it has been revealed that maximum number of people lost their lives in the police jurisdiction of Pernem (16), Bicholim (15) and Agasaim (14). In South Goa, the highest number of accidents were reported in the Ponda police station jurisdiction (24), followed by Verna (16) and Vasco (12). The maximum number of people who lost their lives in the same police jurisdiction were: Ponda (25), Verna (17) and Vasco (13).In October 2022, Goa police constituted a 3-member committee under the chairmanship of IGP Omvir Singh and other members, including DIGP Aslam Khan and SP Shekhar Prabhudessai to suggest measures to be undertaken by various stakeholders and road owning agencies to prevent and reduce accidents. Chief minister Pramod Sawant attributed nearly 95% of the road accidents that happen at night to drunken driving. “There has been a rise in accidents at night and this may be because of driving under the influence of alcohol. There is a need to stop 100% of the accidents happening due to this, we need to take steps,” Sawant had said.In a major accident in July 2022, four people died in the early hours after the car they were travelling in crashed into the railings of Zuari bridge and plunged into the river. A joint operation conducted by state agencies and the Indian Navy lasted for almost 12 hours, and culminated in the vehicle being retrieved with all four bodies still inside.The four were on their way from Loutolim to Panaji to celebrate the birthday of one of the occupants. Police said that they had cut a cake before leaving for Panaji for dinner, since restaurants in the village were closed due to the ensuing panchayat elections. Police said that the driver of the vehicle lost control and it rammed into the bridge’s railings.
PANAJI: A study on road traffic accidents (RTAs) conducted by two doctors from the Goa Medical College and covering 440 cases found that a large number of drivers—13.04%—drove without a licence and that a sizeable number had consumed alcohol, thus placing themselves and others at risk.As per the study, the use of alcohol within six hours before the accident was noted in 38 (12.7%) of the victims who were in the driver’s seat. It also found that 234 (65.4%) had not used a seat belt or worn a helmet and that 350 (79.5%) suffered grievous injuries as opposed to 90 who sustained simple injuries.‘A Study of Road Traffic Injury Victims at the Tertiary Care Hospital in Goa’ by Dr Abhishek Bicholkar and Dr Jagadish Cacodkar was published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care in 2022.The study has attempted to highlight the root causes of RTAs and to study injury patterns in victims. It found that 40 victims (9.1%) reported regular use of alcohol, while 32 reported smoking.As many as 90 (23.6%) victims did not own the vehicle involved in the accident. It either belonged to a friend, relative or employer. A majority, 134 (30.4%) were in the age group of 30-40, whereas more than half were in the 20-55 age bracket, a key wage-earning and child-raising group.As many as 114 (25.9%) were in the 20-30 age group. Also, the majority, 322 (73.2%) of the victims were men and 118 (26.8%) women. More than half the victims were married, and 144 were single. Other victims were either widows, divorcees, or separated from their spouses. The loss of a breadwinner or head of the household in a road accident, an injury, or a disability can be catastrophic to a family and often lead to a lower standard of living, and drives them deeper into poverty, the study noted.Also, 46 victims reported an obstruction on the road, which caused the accident. Most of the hurdles were in the form of animals crossing the road or cattle sitting on the road. Movable dividers lying across the road, a pedestrian, road construction debris, or other objects such as fallen tree branches accounted for some of the accidents. The study concluded there was a need to increase awareness among road users and the community regarding road safety. Government authorities should ensure consistent and strict implementation of traffic rules and accelerate the implementation of road-safety preventive measures, the study stated.
