Porvorim, Dec 15 (TOI): Bus drivers and drivers of government vehicles caught speaking on mobile phones while driving will have their licences suspended for six months instead of the present three months. A decision to this effect was taken by the state road safety advisory council on Friday at a meeting headed by transport minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar.

Speaking to TOI, a government officer said, “If we have decided to implement road safety norms strictly, then we should also start with our department.”

The meeting was attended by the transport secretary, PWD chief engineer, PWD officials, transport department officials, municipality officials and others.

Members of the council reviewed the road accidents that took place in the state. Government officials said that with strict implementation by the traffic police and RTO, the government was able to bring down the number of fatal accidents in the state. “This year, till October, 187 people lost their lives in road accidents as compared to 216 lives last year,” an official said.

The council also discussed the issue of potholes and damaged roads. From 2013 to 2017, about 15,000 people across the country had died due to potholes. Sources said the PWD has been asked to come out with a strategy to prevent potholes from developing on Goa’s roads and to also to repair existing ones.

The minister also discussed the recommendations of the Supreme Court committee on road safety and urged transport and PWD officials to implement the recommendations in the state.