Margao: “The time has come to put an end to the deadly ‘Rent-a-Car’ menace on Goa’s roads. Enough is enough,” stated Madganvcho Awaaz & Youth Leader Prabhav Naik. Referring to the viral video of the horrific accident on Margao-Sirlim road on Tuesday, 26th May involving a rented Thar that rammed into an innocent two-wheeler rider who was reportedly at no fault, Naik said the incident has once again exposed the grave danger posed by reckless driving by tourists operating rented vehicles in Goa.
Prabhav Naik said that while tourism remains the backbone of Goa’s economy and visitors are always welcome, repeated incidents involving rented cars and bikes have created a serious road safety crisis. He stated that innocent Goans and law-abiding road users should not have to risk their lives because of irresponsible drivers who treat public roads as racing tracks.
Naik stated that the repeated fatal accidents involving rent-a-cars and rent-a-bikes over the last several years have now reached their peak, with each new tragedy serving as a grim reminder of the failure to address the problem decisively. He said that despite numerous accidents, injuries and loss of lives, authorities have continued to rely on temporary measures instead of taking firm action. “The only way forward is to end this menace completely before more innocent lives are sacrificed on Goa’s roads,” he asserted.
He further urged the Traffic Police and Transport Department to intensify enforcement drives across Goa, particularly at accident-prone locations and tourist hotspots. He said there should be zero tolerance for drunken driving, overspeeding, dangerous overtaking and rash driving, irrespective of whether the offender is a local resident or a visitor.
“The safety of human life must always take precedence over commercial interests. Every accident leaves behind a family shattered and a community in grief. The Government must act decisively before more innocent lives are lost. Goa’s roads cannot become a playground for reckless drivers. The time for half-measures is over,” Prabhav Naik asserted.
