The unfortunate incident in Belagavi, in which a former Ponda MLA, Lavoo Mamledar, lost his life after a scuffle with a taxi driver, is a grim reminder of the growing sense of intolerance among motorists. The CCTV footage of the incident outside a hotel shows the taxi driver and Mamledar engaging in heated arguments that triggered the driver to resort to a flurry of hits on Mamledar's face before being disengaged by those present at the scene. Mamledar, who walks inside the hotel is seen collapsing just before he can take the stairs.
The sequence of events leading to the scuffle is all too familiar, and we have seen such scenes numerous times in Goa. Accidents, even minor ones, are followed by violent reactions from motorists, even leading to assaults. Earlier this month, an incident of road rage was reported in Sangolda, where two tourists from Nashik, Maharashtra assaulted a local car driver with violent fist blows and a helmet following a collision between their bike and the car.
The incident in Belagavi is just one of many examples of how tensions can boil over into dangerous physical confrontations. While police intervention has been usually swift in such cases, there have been no deterrents against such behavioural patterns and violence continues to be the medium to resolve issues. The frequency with which individuals resort to violence to settle scores is a worrying trend and raises questions about the broader societal context that enables such behaviour and the need for remedial actions and mediation to prevent such altercations from escalating into physical assaults.
The traffic police in Goa have held a special night patrol drive over the last four days where traffic violators, including drunken drivers, have been booked. Such unannounced drives are no doubt welcome, however, in a hardened system these would not help the larger cause of streamlining traffic. The State needs a sustained, round-the-clock monitoring and enforcement mechanism to ensure the wheels of discipline move. We can only hope to see attitude and temperament shifting gears through such consistent exercise.
Road violations have become a habit with motorists showing a penchant to break rules, the hefty fines under the new traffic laws notwithstanding. The need of the hour is to be ruthless in enforcing traffic laws so that along with that, discipline would also become a matter of routine.
Road enforcement is challenging no doubt, and keeping frayed tempers in check makes it even more difficult. The Belagavi and Sangolda incidents are also a stark reminder of the need for greater awareness about road safety and responsible behaviour among motorists, the two most crucial and undetachable components. Lastly, there has to be zero tolerance towards those who take the law into their hands and engage in violence on roads.
The statement by Belagavi MLA urging auto drivers to maintain cordial relations with passengers and the idea of an orientation programme with the police is timely and welcome. The police need to take a proactive approach to promote a culture of tolerance and harmony and send out a broader message that they are at the service of all road users.
