As police investigations revealed that the vehicle was being driven by a 19-year-old youth from Maharashtra, questions were raised over whether rent-a-car operators are exercising adequate accountability and responsibility while leasing vehicles to tourists.
Quepem MLA Alton D’Costa, who met Margao police officials along with the victim’s family members to seek updates on the investigation, said the government must send a strong message to tourists that reckless and dangerous behaviour will not be tolerated in Goa.
“We are not against tourists or those doing business. Tourists cannot come to Goa and do as they please ” whether it is reckless driving, driving on beaches or even into the sea,” he said.
D’Costa also stressed that rent-a-car operators must ensure proper checks before handing over vehicles to customers.
Appreciating the Margao police, led by PI Arun Desai, for achieving a breakthrough in the hit-and-run case, the MLA urged the government to take the issue seriously.
“The Transport Minister speaks about cancellation of licences, but that has had little effect on the ground. The government must act decisively before more innocent Goan road users lose their lives,” he said.
Madganvcho Awaaz youth leader Prabhav Naik said the time had come to put an end to what he termed the “deadly rent-a-car menace” on Goa’s roads.
Saying “enough is enough”, Prabhav Naik noted that while tourism remains the backbone of Goa’s economy and visitors are always welcome, repeated accidents involving rented cars and bikes have created a serious road safety crisis.
Naik further pointed out that fatal accidents involving rent-a-cars and rent-a-bikes have been recurring for several years and have now reached alarming levels.
