Shillong, July 18: Nongpoh MLA and UDP leader Mayralborn Syiem has urged youths to refrain from using public roads as stunt arenas.
“Such behaviour not only puts your life at risk but also creates hazards for other travellers,” he said.
Syiem said the trend of overspeeding bikers, particularly on weekends, has turned stretches of public roads into “makeshift racing tracks,” posing a grave risk to commuters. “This is not just a concern for me as a legislator, but as a citizen of the district. The safety of people is at stake,” he said.
Nongpoh, being a major gateway to Meghalaya with heavy traffic movement, has reportedly seen a sharp rise in traffic violations, especially by young riders, both locals and those coming from neighbouring areas. Syiem highlighted how Sundays have become notorious for groups of youth racing through the town on bikes and scooters, performing dangerous stunts and often disturbing public peace.
“I have personally witnessed such incidents many times. It is alarming and disruptive to public order,” Syiem remarked, urging authorities to take stronger measures to address the menace.
He further called on the police and transport departments to step up their surveillance and take sustained, strict action against anyone using roads for racing or stunts, regardless of their state of origin. “Reckless riding should not be tolerated under any circumstances. We must act before it’s too late,” he concluded.
He acknowledged the efforts made by law enforcement, including vehicle checks and awareness drives, some of which have been publicised widely on social media. However, he admitted that the problem continues unabated, with many offenders repeatedly violating traffic rules.
Referring to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and its subsequent amendments, Syiem stressed that there are clear legal provisions to ensure road safety for both drivers and pedestrians. He called for strict enforcement of these laws, warning that leniency could lead to more accidents and endanger innocent lives.
