First 5 mts this year saw 27% rise in road pedestrian deaths over Jan-May 2024

Panaji: Walking on the streets in Goa is no longer considered safe, given the rise in pedestrian deaths. Statistics from the traffic cell of Goa police reveal a sharp increase of over 27% in pedestrian deaths due to road accidents until the end of May.

This May, there was a 125% rise in pedestrian deaths due to road accidents.While the total number of road accidents continue to remain negative compared to 2024, there has been a slow rise in fatal accidents. In the first quarter of the year, Goa recorded a 23% decrease in fatal accidents and a 25% dip in road deaths, representing some positive signs of traffic safety after many years. Otherwise, on average, one person lost their life in a road accident per day over the past couple of years.However, by the time Goa reached mid-year, the gap of a 23% decrease in fatal accidents reduced to just 9%.Goa police attribute the increase in fatal accidents to state govt’s decision not to deploy police to challan traffic violators. Between January and May 2025, 115 fatal accidents were reported in the state, as against 142 in the corresponding period of last year. Until this May, 118 people lost their lives compared to 115 over that period in 2024.

Until May this year, 23 pedestrians died due to road accidents compared to 18 in the same period last year. In May, nine pedestrians died, compared to only four in 2024. Last month, in a hit-and-run accident case, a 12-year-old pedestrian, Akanshaya Boro, lost her life. The motorcycle was ridden by a minor boy at Mapusa. Goa police arrested the father of the minor boy and the pillion rider.Goa police have planned to reduce fatal accidents by 10% in 2025.

The traffic cell increased awareness drives on violations, with campaigns at schools, colleges, and village panchayats. An analysis of accidents in 2024 by the traffic cell revealed that the maximum number of accidents occurred between 6pm and 7pm. A senior police officer said that a higher number of accidents occur after office hours as everyone is in a hurry to reach home.The traffic cell said that the maximum number of accidents were reported on Mondays at 16.5%, followed by Sundays at 14.5%. A senior officer said that Monday is the first day of the office week, and due to delays at home for some reason, most people speed to reach their offices, which could be one of the reasons for the maximum accidents reported on that day.