Traffic Woes — the other side of the story.

#Sushant Forever,#GoaCan

When I first saw the poster I was kind of sceptic, I mean what’s the big deal.

When GoaCan invited me for a panel discussion on road accidents I went there since it is a bugbear in my space.

The event for sponsored by Sushant forever.

I discovered that Sushant Naik was a 23yr. Photographer who died in a road pop. Since then his parents have this event to remind people we do not need anymore Sushants. The room was full of everyday people, citizens who know and realize that being is citizen is not about your laptop and blaming the government but becoming proactive.

The panel had Sandesh Prabhudesai as the moderator, he of course baited the discussion.

There is an old red Indian saying that says judge a man only when you walk in his moccasins. Here was Mr.Prakash Azavedo, telling us

• Department wants it mandatory to include traffic rules in schools, particularly pre-primary and primary. Not as lesson to write but let them use the tricycles, and bicycles that they play with to learn traffic rules.
• Before giving licenses for schools check with the RTO and traffic for safety, and parking clearance.

The resistance here comes from the public, instead of understanding that these government offices function for the people, by the people they look at it as us people and them government.

The dynamic traffic cop Mr.Angle, gave us horrifying statistics and in each case it is the vehicle owner’s irresponsibility.

• Driving through one ways,
• Speaking when on the mobile,
• Triple ridding a three wheeler.
• Driving with helmets and seat belts.

  

The most interesting question that was put across was by Mr.Angle to the Mr.Kulkarni from the PWD, why is that you guys put a speed breaker over night without marking, and the effect of it shows up on my statistics as fatal or brutal accidents.

The PWD has his own owes, with the telephone companies and cable operators digging up as and when they feel like without informing or taking prior permission, now here is the cliché, the PWD cannot take action until someone complains and no one is willing to complain, because its not their job.

It is not that provisions are not made there is a road engineering department which looks into road safety. Like the PWD engineer mentioned, there is a pedestrian walk over right in front of the Sharada mandir  school, but neither do the parents use it, nor do they train their children to use it.

unless speed breakers have at least 4 signs warning people of their existence they are illegal. Inform the RTO of its presence, they will be removed.

If the PWD digs a road, they use signs, if roads are being dug without signs they are illegal, bring it to the PWD/RTO’s notice.

Vehicles parked on the footpath are illegal.

The process is very simple click a picture, mention the date and location either post it on the traffic cells wall or whatsup/SMS the relevant department, particularly cop, their numbers are available.

The best thing we could do is help the traffic cell by volunteering as traffic wardens.

to volunteer as a traffic warden please get in touch with your nearest RTO  or the RTO cell at the Kadamba bus-stop.