As I recollect the instances of road rage which I was unfortunate to witness during the past Sunday and the working days of this week, the only emotion running through my mind was a sense of gratitude to the circumstance of destiny for preserving the physical integrity of my car.
Sunday
A Liquor Vendor in Chaudi, Canacona issuing numerous E7A Liquor Transport Permits to Truck Drivers incessantly and without any cross verification being demanded at the counter from the transport drivers who have alighted from yellow number plate lorry trucks.
Monday
Monday began with an erratically overtaking White Bus impacting the right side view mirror of my Electric Car and shattering the integrity of the mirror. The entire housing of the side view mirror was dislodged from the car’s main body upon impact from the large bus which was being driven in a rash and negligent manner before it decided to overtake my vehicle in a very risky manoeuvre while the oncoming vehicle had already closed up the gap in between the two vehicles travelling in opposing directions.
Tuesday
A Navy Blue Baleno Hatchback performs a right turn from the overtaking lane on a four lane road at the BITS Pilani Road Intersection while keeping all traffic halted including a 108 Ambulance which was rushing with emergency sirens which then had to use the hard shoulder lane on the left to drive away from the blockade of traffic. Through his uncivilised behaviour was obvious that this motorised road user was ignorant of the Rule 8 which reads as follows:
“8. Giving way to Traffic at Road Junction: The driver of a motor vehicle shall, on entering a road intersection, at which traffic is not being regulated, if the road entered is a main road designated as such, give way to the vehicles proceeding along that road, and in any other case give way to all traffic approaching the intersection on his right hand.” (Rules of the Road Regulations, 1989).
Wednesday
White Creta SUV bearing a CA Sticker was overtaking my electric car from the left side of the road at the traffic signal while accelerating and speeding away from the green light. This SUV driver clearly acted in ignorance of the first rule which specifies that a vehicle should overtake from the right-hand side.
“1. Keep Left: The driver of a motor vehicle shall drive the vehicle as close to the left-hand side of the road as may be expedient and shall allow all traffic that is proceeding in the direction to pass on his right-hand side.”
Thursday
Traffic Cell Police Personnel were seen standing in between the road at the Goa Engineering College intersection near Farmagudi gesturing to errant motorists to stop for suspected traffic violations.
It needs to be noted that traffic police personnel should not endanger their lives by standing in perilous locations on the road which may prove to be blind spots in the vision field of the motorists.
Friday
Dark Turquoise coloured Ignis Rent a Car stopping in the middle of a two lane road at Vidyanagar, Margao to ask for directions as it is being driven by Indian Tourists, thereby having no regard for the traffic being held up behind their vehicle.
Commentary
Further in rewinding the bone chilling instances of negligence on the road where the road safety of vulnerable road users such as two wheeler riders was so fatally compromised that an entire head was decapitated from the body of the motorcycle rider, a common man of general prudence should ask the question about where were the highway patrol police snoozing when road safety of vulnerable citizens was being squandered to the peril of ignorant transport drivers.
The licensing process for the issuance of driving licences in the state is incomprehensive as charts of road signals being distributed by the general cadre of driving schools in Goa are deficient in informing the candidate about the Rules of the Road Regulations, 1989.
Electric Scooter riders zoom past pedestrians without any prior warning of their approach and their speed and forcible manoeuvres of approaching pedestrian crossings is unpredictable and unsafe.
For a historically serene state like Goa to be lacking in the basic etiquette of giving right of way to its pedestrians at the designated zebra crossing and at the traffic signals, sadly proves that Goan society is being flooded with selfish values of urbanisation which prevail all over the overcrowded metropolitans of India and this infestation of impatience now threatens to take over Goan roads.
Even more alarming is the disregard for Rules of the Road which till this day have the propensity to save lives on the road and prevent road crashes:
Firstly, keep left and allow traffic to pass from the right hand side of the vehicle when driving/riding.
Secondly, vehicles travelling uphill on an inclined slope to be given precedence at road intersections. This is because a vehicle travelling uphill has to be managed with the moderating effect of the clutch lever/clutch pedal and the rider/driver has to apply additional inputs to keep the vehicle stable on the inclined slope while the vehicle travelling on a flat road surface do not have to apply these additional inputs.
Thirdly, bring the vehicle to a halt at the traffic signal when the traffic signal light turns yellow in colour.
While there is still some chance to improve the road safety scenario in the state of Goa, the administration needs to demonstrate proactive willingness in mobilising the state’s road traffic regulatory machinery to effectively curb the menace of rash and negligent driving/riding right from incepting in the mind of the motorised road user.
