Cops crackdown on reckless driving, stunts on city roads

SHILLONG, Jan 5: The police have begun a crackdown on the midnight chaos at Khyndai Lad, where groups of bikers and car enthusiasts were seen using the city streets for stunts, and creating dangerous traffic choke points. Following several viral videos on social media capturing these incidents, the authorities have begun taking action to curb the menace.
The videos, widely circulated online, showcase scenes of screeching tyres, revving engines, and modified vehicles performing stunts on public roads, particularly during the festive season. Khyndai Lad and the stretch along the Deputy Commissioner’s office were among the hotspots for such activities, with large crowds gathering to witness the disruptions, often in the absence of police intervention.
One of the videos shows a speeding modified Maruti car overtaking multiple vehicles recklessly before crashing into a pickup truck along the Shillong-Guwahati road at Mawiong. Police confirmed that the driver has been arrested, the vehicle seized, and the driver’s licence cancelled.
Commenting on these developments, a traffic police official stated that the department has intensified patrolling to regain control of the streets. “There shall be overnight checking and patrolling to make sure, that incidents like these do not happen again,” he said, referring to the measures being implemented to prevent such lawless activities.
The Shillong Times had previously highlighted how the lack of regulation at Khyndai Lad had allowed bikers and car owners to use the area for stunting and other activities that endanger public safety.
Social media has since amplified the issue, with some users defending the trend as harmless fun, provided it doesn’t lead to accidents.