King of the road
Truckers are popularly and infamously referred to as kings of the road. But in Shillong, a different kind of king rules the roost.
We are not talking about a new brand of truck or any such gas-guzzling monsters. We are referring to the menace called ‘scooty’ and ‘bike’ but not all of their riders qualify to be kings of the road. Most are sane riders. There is a certain cohort which deserves this title. They are mostly found on the streets after the traffic constables have called it a day. In Shillong, this happens mostly after 8 pm.
This cohort of two-wheeler riders keep calm throughout the day and more often than not, adhere to traffic rules probably due to the fear of challans from the men in uniform or because better sense prevails. However, things take a turn for the worse after the traffic personnel are done with their duties.
It is at this time that they emerge with gusto and recklessness and take over the city streets. Throwing caution to the wind, they resort to manoeuvres, zoom past you from right and left and sometimes show off some stunts, literally taking your breath away.
They race on the streets with gay abandon and overtake with unrestrained impulsiveness. They don’t seem to care and leave it to you to be mindful behind the steering wheel to avoid any disaster. So next time you venture out for a drive, keep your eyes and ears on alert mode and watch out for the kings of the road.
Playing boss
While motorists can make commuting precarious for everyone, but more so for themselves, trucks parked on the thoroughfare bring a different game altogether — playing boss.
Trucks are most likely to not feel the nudge of most vehicles if they were to collide, which is perhaps why most truckers are unbothered about whether their actions could endanger the lives of other road users.
Earlier this week, two trucks were parked on the road near Anjalee fuel station right where the road curves.
The drivers were interacting with each other while their trucks were precariously parked without an ounce of hesitation or concern about how two cars coming from opposite directions will see each other while the trucks block their view and way. It was nearly 3 am — and roads are known to be scary during midnight; from over speeding to reckless driving, you will witness it all.
It is safe to say some trucks would shame most traffic violators when it comes to speeding. They carry high speeds, especially when they’re not carrying anything and rush like they are running for their life or chased by the cops.