[carboy]

It is always the fault of the person merging.

For determing fault, the following thumb rules always hold
- Person merging has to make sure
- Person reversing has to make sure
- Person following has to make sure (i.e if the guy ahead brakes suddenly).

Originally Posted by aargee

In US, people have the fear of shedding their $ due to the excellent tracking system & hence most people abide the law.

What tracking system are you referring to?

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Guna

but the unwritten rule (or norm) followed in Indian roads is, you allow one vehicle to pass (even if you have the right of the way) and everyone else behind follows that vehicle and it is only when there are no more vehicles in that lane, you will get a chance to proceed!

It is lack of basic courtesy rather than unwritten rule. I always wonder when we will become civilised.

Originally Posted by carboy

What tracking system are you referring to?

In US, every traffic violation anywhere in the country adds to your DL points and increases your insurance premium.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by Samurai

In US, every traffic violation anywhere in the country adds to your DL points and increases your insurance premium.

Ok. I was just wondering if he was referring to the above or the ubiquitous traffic cams being set up in the US.

[anku94]

Originally Posted by aargee

Here're my thoughts...
Not sure from where the biker joined; was he also trying to merge into the lane or was he already on the straight lane. If he was trying to follow you & then overtake while merging, he's a moron & you've wasted your time for him. If he was already in the straight lane, then sorry my friend, you should be watchful.

He was in the lane alright. It was my carelessness, evidently. Still learning.

Having said that, just be watchful @Anku from here on. There're morons everywhere, just can waste your time for them.

Yeah, you should see them on the traffic lights. Here's what's the situation is like.

Countdown to green light-

T-30 seconds - Engines on
T-25 seconds - Start revving
T-20 seconds - Accelerate to 1 cm/s
T-10 seconds - Accelerate to 2 cm/s or more if you're not halfway down the crossing
T-5 seconds - You should have crossed by now if you're worth your salt.

Originally Posted by Samurai

I suggest downloading a government issued driver's manual from US/UK or other civilized country and give it a full read. Most of your doubts about right of way will become clear.

Will do that. Thanks.

Originally Posted by jigbarai

My take - what happened above is the problem.

Sure, there was some right of way issue, sudden braking etc but no one hit anyone. These things keep happening, move on instead of getting into ego fights everytime you have to brake over 'right of way'.

I know. I just got angry in the heat of the moment as I'm used to being right most of the time on the road, so when the guy told me to watch out, I presumed it was he who should have been more careful.

Thanks for all the advice, everybody. I'll be more careful the next time.

[aargee]

Originally Posted by anku94

He was in the lane alright. It was my carelessness, evidently. Still learning.

So are all of us @Anku

Originally Posted by anku94

Countdown to green light-

That's the same case everywhere; its already a national problem now.

Originally Posted by anku94

I know. I just got angry in the heat of the moment as I'm used to being right most of the time on the road, so when the guy told me to watch out, I presumed it was he who should have been more careful.

@Anku - there's one more reason all of us need to be cool on the road - road rage. It turns everything upside down & you were lucky enough that the other guy didn't turn the scenes ugly & he just carried his way.

Sometimes, I too get angry & loose control, but that's only when the other guy is 100% wrong like riding/driving on wrong lane & is bang right in front of me. But I too need to learn to let it go; we do not know what kind of person is on the other side.

[anku94]

Originally Posted by aargee

@Anku - there's one more reason all of us need to be cool on the road - road rage. It turns everything upside down & you were lucky enough that the other guy didn't turn the scenes ugly & he just carried his way.

Never thought of that. Whew, there's more to driving than 'stepping on the gas'. lol. Thanks a lot.

[unoczar]

Was it a parking zone? Move that car and all problem solved!

[anku94]

Originally Posted by unoczar

wo parked car ko koi kuch nahi bolra?

Was it a parking zone? Move that car and all problem solved!

Well, the thing is that, if one were to decide to get all the wrongly parked cars moved from an Indian road that he was passing, that's what he'd be doing all day.

It's basically like a jungle raaj. Too many wrongdoers will gang up on the lone protester, thus creating more complications than merely going around the wrongly parked vehicle.

[StopUnderrides]

1. Merging in India and especially in Bangalore is very different from merging in other countries
2. Eg: consider the service lane merges into the main road coming from the airport into the city near Esteem Mall just before Hebbal flyover.
- Here, just after the cut in the service road that allows one to merge, there are trucks/tourist buses parked within 100 m of the cut. Further there are no rumble strips to even slow down the traffic that comes in at over 80kph before it matches the speed of downstream traffic on Hebbal flyover (which is typically never more than 40kph).
- There is no merging lane and even if there was I'm sure trucks and buses would again "sit" in this lane too.
- So the recommended way (on Motorways in the UK) of "speeding up" to match the speed of the traffic in the leftmost lane doesn't work here (if you speeds up, you will crash against the parked trucks and buses. If that happens, the outcome even at 45kph can be fatal.)
3. My recommended way is: a)come to a complete stop near the cut b) perform a nice shoulder check on the traffic and c)start merging only when the road behind you is clear for a full 7-8 seconds (that will be around 160 m for a speed of 80kph)

Any suggestions from other members who have experiences similar configurations?