All about making roads safer : Of siren fitted vehicles
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: January 08, 2025 -

National Road Safety Month 2025 has been launched. More than likely that not many would have taken note of it much less appreciate the spirit with which this campaign has been launched but it should be clear to all that road safety needs to be a priority for everyone.

The Sangai Express does not have the statistics but road accidents claim a number of lives every year besides maiming many more, with the less fortunate having a limp or a scar to show for the rest of their lives.

A closer look at the cases of road mishaps will also leave no one in doubt that many road mishaps could have been avoided, if only more care, a concern for the fellow motorists or pedestrians had been demonstrated.

A look at the daily traffic chaos, the mad rush or over speeding even on crowded roads, the way in which vehicles are parked senselessly by the roadsides, overtaking from the left without a care, breaking one way traffic norms and regulations with impunity etc have all combined to make the roads of Imphal absolutely unsafe.

Anyone who has driven a car or a two wheeler after sunset in Imphal will testify how it is madness out there on the roads of Imphal, with no one actually giving a thought to the others on the road.

Driving with the high beam on at night is common, very common and this invariably means that the driver coming from the opposite side is literally blinded by the high beam.

Dipper is a term that is foreign to many of those who take the wheel of some fancy cars and even two wheelers.

Besides this, yakking one’s way to glory on the mobile phone while still driving, puts not only one in peril but also the other road users.

Till date The Sangai Express has not heard of anyone being pulled up by the traffic police for using mobile phone while driving.

A case of lethargy on the part of the traffic cops or a case of indifference ?

Either way this is unacceptable given that the number of vehicles out there on the roads has seen a geometrical increase down the decades in the face of the fact that today there are more car makers and people have more disposable income.

Put the easy car loans on offer to attract the buyers and the situation is just right for every family to have one or more cars.

Drunken driving, especially in the night, is another reason for turning drivers into killers.

The pathetic condition of the roads in Imphal has also not helped matters at all with the roads kicking up dust in the dry season, as is the case right now, and having to negotiate one’s way through the slush when the wet season comes.

Transport Minister Khashim Vashum was bang on target in urging parents and elders of family not to let underaged kids take the wheel and become a nuisance to everyone.

The Minister also hit the right note in asserting that underaged driving should not be condoned just because the parents happen to be someone who may come under the VIP tag.

Only wished that the Minister had also come out openly against the conduct of some of these class of people who move around in their siren fitted vehicles and expect everyone to give them the right of way when the traffic is choc-a-block.

It is also not uncommon to see high ranking security officers of either the Assam Rifles of the Army moving around with their men gesticulating to everyone to move out of the way so that the officer can move more freely, which goes against the spirit and understanding of Road Safety.

It is when some class of people come under the impression that they can throw their weight around on the roads that all understanding of respecting traffic rules and regulations can go for a big toss.

And Imphal has been seeing this very frequently.

Let the people develop traffic sense.

Let the people shun their selfish demeanour and come to the point that the road is there for everyone to use.

And more importantly let those who come under the VIP tag adhere to traffic rules and regulations.

Traffic rules and regulations should not be bent for the siren fitted vehicles.

This should be the call during the Road Safety Month.