Goa Mandates Road Safety Orientation for New Driving Licence Applicants

Panaji, June 6 (PTI) The Goa government has made it mandatory for citizens applying for a new driving licence to participate in an orientation programme on road safety, in a bid to reduce motor accidents and fatalities. This initiative was launched by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant amid rising road deaths in the coastal state.

Data from the state's transport department indicates that annually, 300-350 people in Goa lose their lives due to road accidents, many of which are attributed to rash driving.

The orientation programme, lasting for 45 minutes, has been rolled out in collaboration with social impact organisations BharatCares, CSR Box, and Diageo India, according to officials.

Dhanraj Chouhan, the project coordinator from BharatCares, informed PTI Videos that the programme is named ‘Wrong Side of The Road’ (WSOTR) and is implemented across all seven Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in Goa. Chouhan highlighted that WSOTR is not just a road safety initiative but a movement for behavioural change, utilizing immersive and tech-enabled modules to educate citizens on the true risks of being on the wrong side of the road and driving under the influence.

Chouhan added that BharatCares has set up over 85 road safety labs across the nation.

Oswin E Carvalho, the Assistant Director of the Transport Department, stated that the orientation programme is compulsory for those seeking a fresh learner’s licence as well as individuals renewing their driving licences. The programme covers the importance of safety belts and helmets, alongside driving safety measures and updated road signs.

He noted that the briefings are conducted in Marathi, English, and Hindi, each lasting 15 minutes.

Bhushan Gaonkar from Chorao village attended the orientation at the RTO in Panaji, expressing his approval of the initiative. He remarked, "It is a good initiative by the government to educate people about the ill effects of drunk driving."