Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa witnessed a worrying reversal in road safety trends in November 2025, as traffic police data revealed a sharp rise in fatal accidents and road deaths during the peak tourist season.
The state recorded a 33 per cent increase in fatal road accidents and a 37 per cent rise in fatalities compared to November last year, triggering serious concerns over traffic enforcement and management.
In November alone, 20 fatal accidents were reported across Goa, up from 15 during the same period in 2024. The number of people killed in these crashes rose from 16 last year to 22 this November.
Officials clarified that while a fatal accident refers to a crash resulting in at least one death, road deaths reflect the total number of lives lost.
A significant factor behind the spike was the rise in two-wheeler accidents, which resulted in a 22 per cent increase in rider deaths. The surge in vehicular movement linked to the tourist season has been cited as a key contributor to the worsening figures.
The situation was further aggravated by a dip in traffic enforcement after the state government withdrew police personnel tasked with issuing challans for traffic violations.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant took the decision following complaints of alleged harassment by traffic staff, particularly lower-ranking personnel deployed on the roads.
The November setback stands in sharp contrast to the encouraging trend seen earlier in the year. During the first quarter of 2025, Goa had recorded a 23 per cent drop in fatal accidents and a 25 per cent reduction in road deaths.
However, by the fourth quarter, these gains weakened considerably, with reductions narrowing to just 6 per cent in fatal accidents and 7 per cent in fatalities.
The Goa Police had set a target of reducing fatal accidents by 10 per cent in 2025. Up to November, the traffic cell booked nearly 1.6 lakh motorists for traffic violations, though this marked an overall decline of about 48 per cent in enforcement action.
Alongside policing measures, authorities stepped up awareness drives, conducting over 700 road safety lectures in schools, colleges and panchayats.
More than 40,000 people were reached through these programmes, which focused on traffic rules and safe driving practices. Despite these efforts, the November surge highlights the mounting challenges posed by seasonal traffic pressure and reduced on-ground enforcement.
