SHILLONG: Hit and run cases are on a rise in the State where several have died even as many were maimed by speeding vehicles in the last week or so.
Besides deaths of pedestrians, including minors, there have also been collisions between vehicles resulting in a series of deaths and injuries.
In separate incidents last week, five persons were killed and over 20 injured due to rash driving.
The latest case is the death of a pedestrian, a minor, who was hit by a speeding vehicle. The boy was on his way to deliver milk when the incident occurred. The driver was later arrested.
Absence of regular checking of drunk driving also adds to the menace. There are also reports of some minors driving vehicles adding to the risks.
The prime cause of concern, meanwhile, is the rampant disregard for traffic norms resulting in rash driving. According to the relatives of the injured victims in road accidents, the obsession of the East Khasi Hills seems to be on clamping vehicles and not on containing accidents and deaths due to rash driving. A Dorbar recently provided five clamps to the district police, but the police have not taken any steps to create aggressive awareness campaign on rash driving and the punishment to the violators of law.
There is on the spot fine on wrong parking after clamping the vehicles, but there is hardly any on the spot fine for other traffic violations and rash and drunk driving. A police officer said that lack of manpower is the hurdle for effective traffic management.
