Shillong: Traffic laws in Shillong have lost their teeth. Commercial drivers routinely pack vehicles beyond legal limits while authorities look the other way. Tourist cabs and compact cars hold a legal max of five people, yet drivers ignore this daily. Enforcement is almost nonexistent.
A compact Alto K10 arrived from the Umiam side this past Monday evening carrying nine people. One passenger sat trapped in the luggage boot. The driver rolled past police officers at Mawlai without stopping. The vehicle dropped its cargo near Lumdiengjri. Residents say this happens all the time on the city outskirts.
Local taxis are just as bad. They cram six passengers into tiny hatchbacks every day. Road safety is a ghost. Commuters are stuck in cramped, dangerous conditions.
The streets carry another threat. Unregistered bike-taxi operators now plague the city. Citizens report that many ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol. They drive recklessly and threaten everyone nearby. One resident noted: "Citizens pointed out that routine vehicle checks and sobriety tests remain largely missing across Shillong, with enforcement typically visible only during security crises or law-and-order disruptions."
Police remain invisible on most days. Systematic checks are absent. Lawlessness reigns on the road.
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