Team Goemkarponn
ZUARINAGAR: Goa Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho has urged motorists to exercise greater caution on the roads, warning that improved infrastructure is increasingly being accompanied by speeding and fatal accidents.
Speaking at the launch of the 15th State Road Safety Week at MES College, Zuarinagar, Godinho said better roads, bridges and flyovers should not encourage motorists to drive at excessive speeds. The event was organised by the Directorate of Transport under the slogan “Drive Safe, Ride Safe, Reach Safe”.
Addressing students, transport officials, elected representatives and road safety advocates, Godinho said the state had witnessed significant infrastructure development but expressed concern over the manner in which motorists were using the improved road network.
“We are witnessing tremendous development of infrastructure with new roads, bridges, and flyovers. But what we have noticed most importantly is that with better roads, people drive at higher speeds without regard for their own lives or those of others,” Godinho said.
Referring to the recently inaugurated Porvorim flyover, the Transport Minister said two recent fatal accidents on the elevated stretch were primarily linked to excessive speed.
“With new flyovers, many people just want to fly and not ride or drive their vehicles,” he said, adding that the state’s road mortality rate had improved from one death every day to one death every 28 hours.
Godinho, however, said Goa had recorded a 17% overall reduction in road accidents. He attributed the decline partly to engineering corrections undertaken at identified accident-prone “black spots” with funding from the central government through the State Road Safety Council.
He stressed that road safety could not be ensured through infrastructure improvements and police enforcement alone, and called for greater public responsibility.
“Whatever efforts the government may take, it is of no use until the public takes road safety seriously,” he said.
Highlighting risks among young motorists, Godinho identified stunt riding, failure to wear helmets, drunk driving and not wearing seatbelts as major contributors to serious injuries and head trauma.
On drunk driving, he suggested that groups designate one person as a sober driver so that everyone can return home safely.
The Minister also directed contractors working on the ongoing Dabolim flyover project to carefully examine all converging points and address potential bottlenecks. He said the project was expected to be completed by late November or early December.
The inaugural function was attended by Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, Transport Secretary Mahesh Kumar Shambhu, Director of Transport Arvind Khutkar, GOACAN Convenor Roland Martins and MES College Principal Dr Manasvi M. Kamat.
