PANAJI: The number of traffic violations registered during the second trimester of this year — also the curfew months — is greater compared to the first three months of 2021.
There were a total of 1,277 speeding violations detected from January to March against 2,292 violations registered between April and June, according to figures shared by the directorate of transport.
“Earlier, we did not have any functional speed radar guns since they were under repair. Later the department purchased more devices and allotted them to all the traffic cells with the help of which we are booking cases of speeding,” DySP traffic P B Shirvoikar said.
There were a total of 46,476 helmetless riding violations from January to March compared to 60,050 violations from April to June.
“Due to the curfew, the number of nakabandis and barricades by traffic personnel as well as the regular police increased. That resulted in greater enforcement across the state. The curfew therefore helped in detecting violations not just through the day, but even after 7pm. As a result the number of offences registered were higher than normal,” road safety activist Roland Martins said.
Road safety advocacy groups are therefore of the opinion that the curfew is a lesson in what the enforcement can really do within a fixed time period.
“Despite it being the curfew period, people were freely moving outside and not just for essentials. Police’s focus was on Covid curfew, but with so many common people moving out it became easy for the police to catch violators. Otherwise, violators, especially on two-wheelers, are able to sneak away from police,” road safety activist Pramod Sawant said.
“People oppose stringent policing citing lack of proper infrastructure (like smooth roads), but simple acts like wearing a helmet or riding within speed limits can be observed irrespective of the infrastructure,” he added.
