SHILLONG: In what can be termed as blatant disregard of driving ethics, ignorance or simply lack of discipline, many vehicles in the city at night run with headlights on full beam blinding oncoming vehicles.
Driving at night becomes a nightmare when one does not follow traffic rules. Most car drivers ignore the rules of traffic while driving at night by using high beam lights not caring about the oncoming vehicles. Many are of the opinion that though the problem may sound simple but the issue is perennial and questions the basics of driving which is checked by the District Transport Office (DTO) before issuing the license.
Most often people grumble about it and it ends there but there have been instances when verbal complaints have been made to the police clearly indicating that it is indeed a nuisance.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Bikram D Marak said that it is a technical problem that the traffic police are faced with as the newer vehicles come with LED lights which makes it difficult for them to measure the beams. He, however, informed that the traffic police keep on reminding the public about the significance of upper (high beam) and dipper (low) beams whenever there is any awareness programme. He said that apart from anything it is also a courtesy to dim the lights so that the vehicle coming from the opposite direction has a clear view.
Asked if there have been any complaints lodged by the public in this regard, he said that so far no written complaints have been lodged, but verbal complaints have been made.
He further requested the drivers to keep simple but important things in mind while driving and make the roads safer.
Meghalaya is known for modified cars and rightly so as it is home to motor enthusiasts, but xenon and halogen headlights, especially on SUVs and other luxury cars might make the vehicles look more attractive but they often distract other drivers.
A massive crackdown by the traffic police has definitely brought down the use of extra market LED lights but the responsibility also lies with the citizens to abide by rules and make the roads safer.
