In Meghalaya, every accident on NH-6 or a village road tells the same grim story — reckless driving, inadequate enforcement, and a government that reacts only after lives are lost. The recent tragedies at Thadrang on 4 October and Quinine on 5 October in Ri Bhoi district, which claimed six lives — two men and four teenage girls — are stark reminders that our roads have become dangerous spaces where disaster waits silently.
It is disheartening to read, hear, and watch news of fatal accidents almost every week, if not every day. What is even more troubling is how quickly we move on. We sympathise with victims’ families, post condolences online, maybe even express outrage for a day — and then carry on as if such deaths are an inevitable part of life. Why do we accept them so readily?
The uncomfortable truth is that we act only after lives are lost. And by “we”, I mean all of us — citizens, government, and law enforcement alike. Every tragedy triggers a flurry of inspections, fines, and awareness campaigns. But when the noise dies down, so does the urgency.
Over the past week, the Ri Bhoi Police, District Administration, and District Transport Office conducted intensive traffic drives. In a few days, they collected around ₹10.5 lakh in fines from about 250 vehicles for violations ranging from not wearing helmets or seat belts, to expired documents, wrong-lane driving, over-speeding, driving under the influence, and illegal modifications. While commendable, this raises a pressing question: why wait for disaster before acting?
Such enforcement drives should be sustained, not reactive, especially given the recurring pattern of accidents on national highways. Waiting until lives are lost to enforce rules defeats the very purpose of preventive policing.
Notably, during these drives, no vehicle was spared — even those with blaring sirens (except ambulances) were stopped, checked, and fined. This impartiality is exactly what citizens demand. It restores faith in the system and demonstrates that accountability is not selective. One can only hope that this spirit of discipline continues — not merely in the days following tragedy, but every single day.
Yet, the responsibility does not lie with authorities alone. As citizens, we contribute equally to road safety. Simple acts — wearing a helmet, fastening a seat belt, staying in lanes, respecting speed limits — could save countless lives. Yet, these are routinely ignored.
There is an old saying: “The streets are full of idiots.” Harsh as it sounds, it reflects reality. When we disregard traffic rules — no matter how educated or experienced we are — we add to the chaos that claims innocent lives.
Road safety cannot be treated as a one-off campaign or a post-accident ritual. It must become part of our daily culture — embedded in how we drive, how we plan, and how we govern. We need stronger laws, yes, but also consistent enforcement and, above all, a change in mindset.
Until then, our highways will remain memorials of negligence — where the price of every lesson learned is another life lost.
