The Model Code of Conduct which has been in force since April 16, the day the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the Lok Sabha elections in India, does not seem to have any effect in the Yamlok as the Yamraj seems to be on a “prowl” continuously in Goa.
Yamaraj, or the God of Death, seems to be in an unrelenting mood in the scorching heat, claiming at least two to three lives every day on Goan roads.
To make matters worse, the IMD has announced a heatwave in Goa along with other States of Telangana, Maharashtra,m Bengal, Andhra etc, which seems to affecting Yamraj’s mood more. (sarcasm)
Jokes apart, Goa is facing its worst phase as far as road accidents are concerned.
It has been reported that in the last 15 days from April 1 to 15, an unbelievable figure of 100 accidents has been reported in Goa. Two more deaths in a fatal accident at Mungul, Fatorda and Monday took the death toll on Goan roads in the last 15 days to 19.
While fatalities continue, the number of people suffering from permanent deformities in accidents has also increased. This has resulted in fear and anxiety among road users. The situation is such that it is difficult to say whether a breadwinner, who leaves for work in the morning, will return home by evening.
The statistics of accidents are even more scary over the last three and half months of the year 2024. From January 1, 2024, as astounding number of 852 accidents have occurred in Goa in the last 105 days in which 99 people lost their lives. In addition to the deaths 130 persons suffered grievous injuries and 276 persons suffered minor injuries in the accidents that were recorded till April 15.
Ways to Prevent Road Accidents
While the police and government are doing their duties to prevent accidents, the onus also lies on us to protect our own lives by taking precautions.
We need to develop the right attitude about driving. Many teen auto accidents are a result of attitude and maturity, not skills or knowledge. Make a commitment to yourself to practice a responsible attitude about driving. You’re controlling over 1 tonne of fast-moving metal, and you owe it to yourself, your passengers and other drivers to drive responsibly.
For teenagers, the parents should take an active role in practising driving and advising them on overspeeding. Always wear your safety belt in cars and helmets on two wheelers. Get into the habit of wearing a safety belt whenever you are in a car, whether as a driver or a passenger – no exceptions.
Avoid drunk driving. Even if you’ve consumed only one drink, there is a chemical effect on your brain that can impair judgment and reaction time. Driving under the influence of alcohol can cost you your license – or your life.
Limit your night driving: The risk of a fatal crash is three times higher at night than during the day for every mile driven. It’s better to avoid nighttime driving until you’re comfortable driving during the day.
Keep it slow and safe for starters. Fast-moving, high volumes of traffic can make you feel uncomfortable, so avoid them until you can get enough supervised driving experience. Then you can gradually introduce more difficult driving situations, like highway driving, merging, and driving in cities.
Cell phones are for emergency use only on the road: One of the worst habits anyone can get into is talking on a cell phone while driving. Keep a cell phone with you in the car for emergencies only. If you have to use a cell phone, pull safely over to the side of the road.
Drive a safe vehicle: If you are thinking of getting your own car, look for one with high safety ratings. Avoid small cars, trucks, or sport utility vehicles. Check out statistics and consumer report literature to help evaluate the safety rating of a car or truck.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (the people who do the crash tests) offers valuable vehicle and safety test advisories.
Defensive driving:
Everyone on the road has the right of way and common sense is in practicing it whenever you find a vehicle in a hurry.
This fundamental habit or quality is defensive driving. It is a safe and smart way to prevent road accidents. It is safe and a smart way to prevent road accidents. By being obstinate, blocking the path, or impeding the passage of a vehicle, you might end up increasing the risk of an accident.
So, we would suggest you steer clear of aggressive and reckless drivers instead of getting into road rage. Also, be considerate to heavy-duty vehicle drivers and tailgaters.
Make way for them to operate safely by switching to a different lane to overtake you. Remember to watch out for other vehicles and use turn indicators as a signal while doing so.
Distance Between the Vehicles:
Avoid being a tailgater by driving too close to the vehicle in front of you.
Driving too close deprives you of the adequate space needed to decelerate during a sudden stop, especially if the vehicle ahead hit brakes abruptly. If you are a driver of a truck or trailer, then take more precautions in maintaining the distance because it takes almost 40% longer for a trailer to stop as compared to a car.
Therefore, I recommend you follow the “Three Second Rule” to maintain a safe distance between the vehicles ahead or else you may rear-end them. Wondering what’s “Three Second Rule” is? It is a simple phenomenon that allows you to keep your vehicle 3 seconds away from a permanent object alongside the road through which the vehicle ahead of you has passed. You can also double the seconds in case of trailers or lousy weather.
Don’t Speed: SPEED THRILLS BUT KILLS
Drive within the specified speed limit because speeding can be fatal. Faster vehicles take longer to stop even after applying brakes and tend to skid. Also, the collision of a faster vehicle causes horrific injuries. It is one of the leading causes of around 70% of severe crashes.
In case of bad weather or dense fog, the visibility is hampered significantly. So, driving slowly along the road markers is the safest option. Also, avoid high speed during heavy rain as it may lead to car aquaplaning.
