I have seen some dreadful driving in various countries but the traffic rules (and interpretation of them) in India, convince me that nothing could induce me to get behind the wheel of a car while I’m here.
In the cities, there are usually three lanes which roughly translates to at least six lanes of traffic. A favourite style is to hedge your bets by driving up the middle of a lane. This allows you to swerve quickly into either lane, while honking your horn, should anyone try to overtake.
Then you have to consider the traffic itself. Obviously this includes cars, taxis, buses, trucks, tuktuks, rickshaws, bicycles and motorbikes. A particular case in point is Delhi. This is a city of 18.6 million people. There were more than 10.5 million registered vehicles in 2017. I can’t begin to imagine how many unregistered vehicles exist. Then there are the cows, dogs, goats, camels and the occasional elephant, to contend with. Tthey all make free use of the roads – sometimes accompanied, sometimes not. It all makes for very interesting, hazardous and life threatening journeys.
The most important accessory for any vehicle is, of course, the horn. It must be tooted loudly and repeatedly at all times and often for no reason. Except in affluent parts of Delhi where you will be arrested for making a noise (and disturbing the rich people) as the many displayed posters imply. Otherwise the noise level in the cities is such that you would benefit from earplugs.
Other observations include:
- There is no such thing as a one way street – no matter what the sign says
- Feel free to drive up any side of the road that takes your fancy
- No space is too small for any vehicle or animal. It just takes determination.
- Go as slowly or as quickly as you like, in any lane. the more drivers you enrage – the better.
However, it is hard to envisage a more entertaining, enlivening experience than travelling through Delhi. Just don’t drive yourself!
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