Panaji, Jul 11 (TOI): The Goa police’s traffic cell has issued over 10,000 challans for speeding since it deployed four laser speed radar guns (LSRGs) to crack down on the menace. The LSRGs were deployed four months ago, said deputy superintendent of police, North Goa traffic cell, DGP Angle.

Once an errant driver or rider is booked for overspeeding, the license is compounded and the traffic cell asks the road transport office (RTO) to suspend the license for three months.

The RTO recently sought legal opinion from the advocate general whether or not to do so.

Recently, the PWD also notified speed limits along national highways in the state. As per the notification, a speed limit of 70kmph applies to the Patradevi to Pollem, Cortalim to Mormugao port and Goa border (Anmod) to Banastarim bridge stretches. Goa police often deploys LSRGs at accident-prone sites across the state, like the Mandovi and Zuari bridges. The LSRG catches speeding vehicles 300m before it reaches the gun, by which time the device would have collected photo and video evidence.

The LSRGs were deployed after Goa police conducted a detailed study in the wake of an increasing number of accidents across the state. It revealed that overspeeding and drunken driving were the main causes of accidents and fatalities on Goan roads. Goa police also procured 100 alcometers, which have resulted in thousands of drunken driving cases being booked across the state.

Statistics show that a person is killed in a road accident in Goa every 32 hours. This year has seen 84 persons lose their lives on the road so far.