SHILLONG: With cases of rash driving on the Shillong-Jowai NH 44 being reported on a daily basis, driving on the highway has become a nightmarish experience for commuters. People who drive on the road regularly complain that the stretch from Mawryngkneng to Jowai has become quite dangerous with vehicles, especially trucks, creating ruckus by indulging in rash driving. Adding to the problem is the absence of basic safety infrastructure such as road signs and warnings on accident prone areas. “The road from Mawryngkneng to Jowai is a narrow two-lane road and there are a lot of blind spots where you cannot see oncoming vehicle and many times vehicles go out of control due to rash driving,” said a regular commuter on the road.Speaking on the issue, West Jaintia Hills SP R. Muthu said the district police have been stressing on use of seat belts and on many occasions, police have come across cases of people driving under the influence of liquor or drugs.
“We deploy our personnel on the road for checking but it is not regular. Every month we realize a fine of around lakh rupees for violation of traffic rules,” he said. Stating that police have been using breath analyzers for detecting cases of driving under the influence liquor, Muthu said that as per the guidelines of the Supreme Court, Jowai police is now requesting the courts to cancel the license of people who are caught drive under the influence of liquor. In addition, Jowai police is also discussing the matter of road accidents with DIPR, PWD, 108 Ambulance Services to ensure that lives can be saved in cases of accidents.
