By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 2: The all-out efforts of Ri-Bhoi Police to curb traffic violations have paid off, as the busy Shillong-Guwahati highway is now witnessing significantly fewer road accidents. The district police have also collected fines amounting to ₹75 lakh from violators in just one month.
Ri-Bhoi Superintendent of Police, Vivekanand Singh Rathore, told The Shillong Times on Sunday that following the recent intensive traffic drive — during which no violator was spared — noticeable positive changes have been observed on the highway. “Earlier, there used to be four to five accidents every day. Now, we see just one accident on average, and on some days, not even a single case is reported,” he said, adding that most of the recent accidents have been minor and non-fatal.
Highlighting the behavioural change among motorists, the SP said the department has received feedback from the public that nearly 50 percent of truck drivers, particularly locals, have begun driving in the left lane.
Although a section of truck drivers continues to use the right lane, the police are confident that they too will fall in line with continuous awareness campaigns. Rathore added that all police stations are now coordinating joint checks, with patrol vehicles on other duties also instructed to raise awareness whenever they spot traffic violations.
“If people don’t listen, we issue e-challans,” the SP said, urging the public to be patient while overtaking on the highway.
Stating that lane discipline has improved considerably, Rathore said that a major portion of the ₹75 lakh collected in fines came from heavy motor vehicles. “Many of these trucks violate rules by using excessive front lights, having non-functional brake or tail lights, or being involved in drunken driving,” he noted.
The Ri-Bhoi police have also taken to social media with informative and humorous posts to spread awareness about traffic rules and road safety. “We want people to talk about these issues — because when people talk, awareness grows,” the SP added.
