50% of Goa accident deaths caused by crashes on rural roads: Police analysis

Panaji: Over the past five years, between 2019 and 2023, 50% of accident fatalities were recorded from crashes on village roads, according to Goa police statistics. Accidents on national highways accounted for 37% of the fatalities and those on state highways, 13%.
Over 70% of people who lost their lives in road accidents in that period were either riders or pillion riders of two-wheelers.Additionally, 16% of people who died were pedestrians.
In all, 1,307 people were killed in road accidents during the period under analysis, including riders, pillion riders, drivers, pedestrians, passengers, and cyclists. Of the total, 644 people lost their lives in accidents on village roads, 485 on national highways, and 178 on state highways.
“Goa police have analysed the broad pattern of fatalities on national highways, state highways, and internal roads,” DGP Alok Kumar told TOI. “From the analysis, it emerges that 70-80% of deaths are occurring on national highways and internal roads.”
Kumar said remedial measures such as road-engineering solutions for national highways and internal roads, as well as prosecution for violations, are likely to reduce fatalities. “We keep suggesting road-engineering measures to road-owning agencies, which are followed up during interdepartmental meetings,” Kumar said.
The DGP said awareness of road safety in habitations around internal roads will go a long way in reducing accidents in these areas. “Goa police have been reaching out to panchayats to make them partners in the drive to ensure road safety on a long-term and sustainable basis.”
He added, “We are also assessing our prosecution strategy for violations on internal roads and will tweak it if required.”
Around 66% of riders and pillion riders who lost their lives in two-wheeler accidents between 2021 and 2023 did not wear helmets, police said.
The tendency of Goa’s two-wheeler riders to avoid wearing helmets has become a serious concern for road-safety authorities. From 2021 to 2023, 541 riders and pillion riders lost their lives in accidents; 357 of these riders had not worn helmets.
Goa continues to grapple with fatalities from road accidents, with 165 people being killed in the first six months of the year. In the corresponding period last year, 164 people died in accidents.