Incidents of road mishaps increasing in State

From A Reporter

SHILLONG, May 7: The number of road accidents in the city and across the state of Meghalaya is continuously on the rise as this year alone there has been more than 120 causalities due to road mishaps.

On February 26, at least 17 people were killed and 53 more were injured in West Khasi Hills when they were on their way to attend Church meeting. The Church goers were on an overcrowded truck carrying nearly 70 people. The truck rammed into the concrete barricade of the tiol Highway.

Speaking to The Sentinel on this issue, SP (Traffic), East Khasi Hills, ngkiew K. Syiem said, “The main reason for the increasing number of accidents in the state is due to the reckless driving of drivers and also due to brash overtaking.”

He further said that other cause of accidents in and around the city is due to underage driving.  “We have also been organizing a number of awareness programme on traffic rules and regulations amongst the youths and we have observed that there has been a positive impact on the youths.”   

Asked on the impact of the recently launched highway patrol vehicles, he said, “The patrol cars are not meant to check traffic however they do relay information and help in clearing any traffic issues.”

“If the driver is alert and is aware of the traffic rules and regulations then the number of road accidents can be avoided,” he said.

He said the department has implemented preventative measures by constantly checking on over speeding by drivers, reckless driving, speaking on the phone while driving etc to prevent any disaster from happening.