Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has a bit of advice for Goa's party-goers.
Speaking at a function in Panaji marked to inaugurate the State Road Safety Week, Parrikar, expressed concern about the rising number of accidents in the State and suggested that party-goers should carpool when stepping out and ensure that there is a designated driver who refrains from drinking that night.
"Abroad, there is a practice everywhere that one person doesn't drink that day at the party. He is the one who drops everyone home. I think we should start these good practices and avoid accidents and reduce deaths. Accidents not only cause economic damage to the family and the country, it also causes trauma to the friends, relatives and the family," Parrikar said.
"In the coming days, if you step out of bars after a certain time, I think it should be also the responsibility of the bar owner also to ensure that the person, who goes out after a particular time or one who has had more than one peg, he should check up that he doesn't drive," Parrikar further said.
Goa is one of the most popular beach and party destination in the country and nearly 300 persons die to road accidents every year, while 300 more are permanently disabled due to motor vehicle accidents, a chunk of which is due to drunken driving.
Parrikar also said, that over six lakh fines were issued last year, which was nearly half of the total number of motor driving licences in Goa.