Road nuisance

Driving can be dangerous if one is not alert and cautious. To help, the government has regulations in place. The concerned authorities do post NOTIFICATIONS from time to time, but who cares. These are just routine notices to portray the relevance of the concerned departments(?). Traffic violators, and there are numerous out there in the lawless streets and highways, are just not bothered. There are some major areas that bother the public.
Illegal Parking: A number of drivers lack road etiquette. They know how to drive, and that’s where all their knowledge ends. They park in every conceivable place, many a time, causing traffic snarls. Some Traffic Controllers turn a blind eye. If they are so scared, they should give up their uniforms. If they feel that some miscreant is a goon, call for help. But do something! Some drivers are arrogant morons, to the point that they are not bothered who is inconvenienced. They take their time ambling around their cars, ignoring irritated public. They even get irritated that other drivers are not patient enough. Wish we had a suitable law for such goons and morons.
Mobile Phone-using Drivers & Traffic Cops: There are many drivers in the towns’ streets and along the highways who cannot do without their mobile phones. These drivers, so engrossed in their gossip, are a hazard to other vehicles and pedestrians. Traffic Controllers too have been seen gossiping on their mobile phones while at their posts, ignoring snarling traffic, particularly at important cross-sections, posing grave danger to all around. Wish we could afford cameras to record such illegal activities.
Speed Limit: Wonder why Kohima town has no SPEED LIMIT! Many vehicles, including those of VIPs, uniformed personnel, and some ordinary civilians are always in a tearing hurry. Some drive recklessly, at unnervingly high speeds, which is a serious threat to everyone on the roads, especially in crowded streets, but the concerned agencies are mute spectators. Wish we had recording cameras and specially trained police, with clout, to deal with such offenders.
Noise Pollution: Some drivers are a terrible nuisance on the roads, revving up high decibels. Dimapur did a wonderful job of removing the irregular mufflers(?) and penalising the drivers/riders. One wonders why so many 2- and 4-wheeler riders/drivers are allowed to create irritating noise that numbs the senses in the Capital? Wish we had tough laws here too.
Blinding Lights: Some vehicles are beautifully decorated with lights all over, from top to bottom. As soon as darkness sets in, their drivers roar through our roads with all lights on, reminding us of Christmas and New Year. The festive season is over for us but not these drivers, who continue to blind oncoming vehicle drivers with their powerful beams.
Then there are the drivers who blind us on the roads by not using the dipper. Most may not even know what a dipper is; such was their training, if they were trained at all.
Two major areas of stationary blinding irritation are at the Assam Rifles camps at Chieswema and Kohima. On the way to Kohima, numerous powerful lamps are seen along the Chieswema Battalion walls, at the front gate. Of these, 5 Search Lights with their powerful beams, are directed at all human eyes on the highway. At the Kohima Battalion, just where the D-Block road meets the street coming down from the DC office Complex, another blinding lamp pierces the cornea of all driver’s eyes. Someone once complained of blinding lights near the Oking Hospital area.
Wish we had a harsh law against such blinding lights, no matter who the culprits are.
Sun Shades: Many notices over the years have warned against the use of tinted films on vehicle glass. But a few shady characters on the streets still use very dark films. But who’s bothered!
Illegal Number Plates: White registration plates with black alphanumeric characters are the norm. But there are pretty plates of various designs that beautify our vehicle population. The concerned department had issued stern notices against their usage, which alas, lack teeth.
Dear concerned Departments/Authorities, stop issuing notices. ACT! We citizens deserve better, something revolutionary.
G.T. Thong
Lower Agri Colony,
Kohima