Chief Minister Pramod Sawant lights a traditional lamp to mark the inauguration of 13th Road Safety Week event on Monday
PANAJI: Although, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant used to say that ‘Bhivpachi Garaz Na’ but after pointing out that on an average of one person dies in a road accident on Goan roads daily, he feels now ‘Bhivpachi Garaz Asa’.
Addressing 13th Road Safety Week event, Sawant said that apart from one death, at least ten people are injured and hospitalized at Goa Medical College (GMC) every day. He said that data shows 40-50 accidents taking place in a day in the State.
“During COVID, I used to tell people ‘bhivpachi garaz na’, but now, looking at the road accident death toll, I have to say ‘bhivpachi garaz asa,” he stated.
The Chief Minister emphasized that ensuring road safety is not solely the government’s responsibility but also falls on the vehicle users themselves. He noted, “People approach politicians to cancel their fines, but I don’t support that.”
Sawant identified three major causes of accidents: driving under the influence of alcohol, mobile phone use while driving, and reckless speeding, particularly by bikers trying various stunts.
Earlier speaking, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho also addressed the issue, noting that Goa is frequently referred to as an accident-prone state. He highlighted that many accidents are caused by underage drivers and tourists renting vehicles without adequate experience.
To combat this, the government plans to install night vision cameras across the state to improve road safety and monitor violations, he said.