DEAD END
>> This year alone, already 80 persons have died in fatal accidents on roads in North Goa
>> 10,911 accidents were reported in North Goa from January 2013 up to August this year
>> The police have also caught and fined 146 youth for riding and driving without licence
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TIGHTENING
THE SCREWS
>> Traffic police are keeping a strict vigil on over-speeding
>> At least two dozen driving licences have been suspended
>> Thousands of riders booked for riding without helmet
>> Over 200 drivers booked for being under the influence of alcohol
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PANAJI: Goa's traffic police have have tightened the screws on traffic violators in recent months and not without a reason.
In North Goa alone, nearly 800 people met their end in over five years while another 670 suffered grievous injuries, several even crippled for life since January 2013. Sources in the Reader's Branch, the statistical wing of the Goa Police Department, said as many as 10,911 accidents were reported on North Goa roads from January 2013 up to August this year. In 7,745 of these mishaps, those involved were fortunate to come out unscathed with no injuries reported to any party.
This year alone, already 80 persons have died in fatal accidents on roads in North Goa.
It is these alarming statistics that have prompted the top brass in the Goa police to begin cracking the whip against traffic violators, said a top police officer. In the first seven months this year, the police, drawn both from the traffic cells as well as from police stations across North Goa have booked thousands for helmet-less riding and over 200 drivers for being under the influence of alcohol above the permissible levels.
The police have also caught and fined 146 youth for riding and driving without licence and under the qualifying age of 18 years.
Interestingly, for the first time in years, the police have begun prosecuting those booked with noticeable seriousness. Police officers are helping assistant public prosecutors to present strong cases before the courts and seek substantive penalties against the offenders, including suspending driving licences and also short terms in jail so as to serve as deterrents against repeat of offences.
Besides drunken driving, traffic police is now also keeping a check on over-speeding. A senior police officer said, at least two dozen driving licences have been suspended for a period of three months for violation of speed-limits on several stretches of highways across the State.
With the bar raised on policing the roads, the traffic crime graph may be climbing but top officials are hoping it will result in safer roads and thus dwindling number of deaths.
