In a major crackdown on traffic offenders, authorities in Goa suspended a staggering 6,734 driving licences in the first nine months of 2025. The data, released by the state's transport directorate, reveals a persistent and alarming disregard for road safety rules, with riding without a helmet emerging as the most frequent violation.
Quarterly Breakdown of Licence Suspensions
The suspensions were not evenly spread across the year. The first quarter (January to March) saw the highest number, with 2,871 licences being suspended. The number dipped to 1,390 in the second quarter (April to June), before rising again to 2,473 in the third quarter (July to September). This pattern indicates fluctuating but consistently high levels of traffic law-breaking throughout the period.
Helmetless Riding: The Persistent Menace
Among all violations, the act of riding a two-wheeler without a helmet dominated the statistics by a huge margin. This single offence accounted for 2,093 suspensions in Q1, 1,007 in Q2, and 1,774 in Q3. Even at its lowest point in the second quarter, the number of helmet violations far exceeded any other category of offence.
This trend points to a widespread neglect of basic safety measures among two-wheeler riders in the coastal state. P Sawant, treasurer of the Goa Road Safety Forum, linked this to systemic issues. He highlighted concerns over rampant issuing of licences for rental vehicles and lax testing standards, especially for young drivers.
"Limited police force cannot effectively manage violations across the state," Sawant said. He argued that this lack of strict testing and enforcement fosters a general disregard for traffic laws. To combat this, he demanded the government re-launch the Traffic Sentinel Scheme—without monetary rewards—to enable citizens to report violations in real time.
Other Major Violations: Drink-Driving, Phones & Speeding
While helmet violations topped the list, other dangerous behaviours also contributed significantly to the suspension tally.
- Drink-Driving: This offence remained a persistent threat, with 534 licences suspended in total. The numbers were consistently high across all quarters: 202 in Q1, 166 in Q2, and 166 again in Q3.
- Mobile Phone Use: Using a phone while driving led to 489 licence suspensions.
- Speeding: This violation resulted in 355 suspensions.
Commenting on the underlying cause, North Goa traffic Deputy Superintendent of Police Sudesh Narvekar pointed to a lack of civic sense among motorists. "While most people are aware of what they should and should not do, they do not apply this knowledge," Narvekar stated. He emphasized that police cannot be omnipresent and that lasting change requires a shift in public attitude and individual responsibility.
The collective data from Goa serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in enforcing traffic discipline. It underscores the urgent need for a multi-pronged approach combining stricter enforcement, improved licensing procedures, and successful public awareness campaigns to foster a genuine culture of road safety.
