City traffic cops to put minor drivers off roads

SHILLONG: The city traffic police have stressed on the need to curb underage driving in the wake of a rise in accidents in Shillong and on its outskirts.
The concern of the Shillong Traffic Police assumes significance since several major road accidents reported in recent times involve minor drivers.
“We have told the District Officer to be strict while giving licenses to new drivers,” SP Traffic NK Syiem said.
As per police statistics, there were 572 road accidents in the state last year in which 207 people died and 763 were injured.
The data further showed that of the 572 accidents, 213 were caused by dangerous and careless driving and overtaking and 123 because of speeding.
Reacting to a query on traffic snarls in the city, Syiem said Traffic Police would penalise those vehicles “which are in the habit of overtaking during traffic jams”.
Urging people to follow traffic rules, the SP said Shillong Traffic Police faces manpower crisis and so they are taking help from Home Guards.
However, Syiem said the number of drunk driving has decreased following the traffic police’s checking drive for the past 5-6 months and conviction of defaulters. “In many cases, we also file non-FIR cases against such accused and the court takes action against such offenders,” he added.
According to Syiem, all traffic police stations in the city have breath analyzers.