[prithm]

We complete this entire 36 bends uphill from Mudumalai after a delayed started due to rush at Elephant Feeding session last month. We were four adults and our Petrol Dzire could not go beyond second gear in most of the spots. Every hair pin turn gave way to more inclination and by the time we were close at 5th bend, it was already pitch black dark.

Luckily that day we did not face much uphill/downhill traffic and we were the sole vehicle climbing in dark. I was very much worried about engine temperature gauge needle status, but it did not move from its standard normal operating position. Saw Ford Figo, i10 and couple of other hatchbacks struggling because they had their luggage upto the brim in boot with no visibility from inside cabin.

But they were chugging along at 10 kmph and taking on those blind hairpins one at a time. I slowed down just to give them a helping hand should they need one, but they were doing fine.

But at the last few hairpins, it just got too steep (was surprised to see beautiful cottage on the sides of the roads at such steep spot) and saw two commercial pickup trucks coming downhill flashing their high beams in my already dilated pupil. Since it was narrow and steep, I gunned my engine to escape from that bottleneck should these senseless drivers block and if I had to stop uphill.

My clutch being already hot as a cauldron, it would have been very tough for it get the bite back if I stopped. And then I saw few more vehicle happily turning the hairpins at crazy turning radius at night in spite of seeing my vehicle's headlight flash signal coming from downhill.

This is not a spot to mess around with heavy luggage's, full load, poorly maintained vehicle, bad tires, bad brakes, inexperienced driving skills. Road is relatively good, but it is the steep nature of curves and thin carriage lane that is worrisome.

And one more request. Anyone traveling in this spot, kindly give way to vehicles coming from downhill, slowdown and for a moment depend on your fog lamps and dim your headlight. Especially if its late in the evening.

Originally Posted by Arjun Reddy

The last time I drove down the Kallatti ghat, I saw atleast 5 cars experiencing brake fade due to overheating brakes. This could also be causing accidents.

People just do not use engine braking while driving downhill. It happened to my friend's car as well. I had warned him to use the engine to brake but half way down he was without brakes on his Swift.

As soon as you get off the ghat on the Masinagudi road, there is a mechanic and I was amused to find around 6 cars there complaining of brake issues.

[Turrrb0]

Originally Posted by Arwin07

rather than humanitarian and legal way of stopping and helping the victim.

I may be wrong, but. It is completely legal to not stop and surrender at the nearest police station.

Could some one clarify?

[locusjag]

Originally Posted by Turrrb0

I may be wrong, but. It is completely legal to not stop and surrender at the nearest police station.

Could some one clarify?

After being the victim of a minor fender-bender on the Krishnagiri-Hosur stretch, the guilty driver had tried to escape. Myself and another driver cornered him a few Kilometers later and the other driver reprimanded the guilty one, saying that a hit and run is an offence. The mere threat of reporting that offence to the police was enough to cow him into silence. I got my compensation soon enough.

But speaking about instances where you surrender to the police, my uncle has done that in Sivagangai. The police understood his fear - why would anyone stop on a highway after dark, with women inside the car, when the gathered mob can get out of control?

Just two examples from my side.

[msdivy]

Originally Posted by prithm

And then I saw few more vehicle happily turning the hairpins at crazy turning radius at night in spite of seeing my vehicle's headlight flash signal coming from downhill.

Along with flashing light, honking is a must. At any blind curve, honk either day or night. There are many goods vehicles going up and they blindly take the turn, using the full road so that they need not reduce the speed. Honking at least will make them aware and cautious.

[Rohit_Quad]

Originally Posted by msdivy

Along with flashing light, honking is a must. At any blind curve, honk either day or night. There are many goods vehicles going up and they blindly take the turn, using the full road so that they need not reduce the speed. Honking at least will make them aware and cautious.

So true. We, in our cities, try to avoid honking. But i still feel that on the highways, honking is the best way to get someones attention. One such incident happened few months ago. I don't know how, but some basic cars (Alto & Indica) are sold without a left side view mirror. Not sure if they are still being sold like that.
On my way from Kurnool to Hyderabad, one such car (Alto, no left mirror) was on the right lane and had it's right indicator on. There was an opening in the median for a U-turn. Obviously one would imagine, they would go right for the turn. But in their amazing wisdom, the car suddenly turned left, to get on to some slip road. Thank god i was driving my friends Ciaz which had ABS. I slammed the brakes and honked like crazy. The Alto, heard the honks and tried to get back into the right most lane. With my reflexes, i could swerve the vehicle into the left most lane (I was in the middle lane, since i though the car would turn right for the U-turn) and get back into the center lane after avoiding the Alto. I thanked all my starts and the ABS (which kicked in perfectly). Did not cross 60 till i came back to Hyderabad.

[anjan_c2007]

The other day saw this Mahindra Scorpio stuck by tripping over a concrete manhole cover. The poor driver must have never apprehended that the manhole cover will give way.

The lesson learnt "Never trust manhole covers."





Please mark the rear right wheel that's in the air !

[sushil_n79]

Hi Rohit
That was scary. Good that a major mishap was averted. Did you happen to meet the Alto guy and give him a piece of your mind?
The irritating thing is when we honk in situations like these, leave alone an apology, there is no acknowledgement.

Guess 60-80 is a safe bet for the highway filled with special people like these.

Regards
Sushil

[DDiSLover]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

The other day saw this Mahindra Scorpio stuck by tripping over a concrete manhole cover. The poor driver must have never apprehended that the manhole cover will give way.

This deserves to be on the weird & wacky thread as well! BMW Scorpio

Originally Posted by purohitanuj

Thanks for clarification. Somehow the front got me confused; however your representation clears all doubts

Designers at Mahindra may have been inspired after crashing their Innova
The front does look like the mahindra, got me confused too. It's the rear that shows it is an Innova

[Arwin07]

https://www.timesnownews.com/amp/ind...ccident/299081

10 of a family killed and 3 adults, 1 child injured in a head on collision of a SUV with a truck in Chattisgarh.

1. Can anyone say which SUV it is with the picture in the news article?

2. 13 adults + 1 child in a 8 seater SUV? Braking distance will increase, pick up will decrease. Overall driving dynamics will change by overloading a vehicle. Easy to lose control.

[raj_5004]

Originally Posted by Arwin07

https://www.timesnownews.com/amp/ind...ccident/299081

10 of a family killed and 3 adults, 1 child injured in a head on collision of a SUV with a truck in Chattisgarh.

1. Can anyone say which SUV it is with the picture in the news article?

2. 13 adults + 1 child in a 8 seater SUV? Braking distance will increase, pick up will decrease. Overall driving dynamics will change by overloading a vehicle. Easy to lose control.

Looks like a Scorpio (most probably base variant) from the rear door design.

[virgopal]

Originally Posted by Arwin07

https://www.timesnownews.com/amp/ind...ccident/299081

10 of a family killed and 3 adults, 1 child injured in a head on collision of a SUV with a truck in Chattisgarh.

1. Can anyone say which SUV it is with the picture in the news article?

As per this news report, it is a Bolero SUV which was involved. Not sure if this correct.
https://www.ndtv.com/cities/9-member...isgarh-1931799

[raj_5004]

Originally Posted by virgopal

As per this news report, it is a Bolero SUV which was involved. Not sure if this correct.
https://www.ndtv.com/cities/9-member...isgarh-1931799

The crashed vehicle has pull type door handles, which the Bolero does not.

[anjan_c2007]

Originally Posted by virgopal

As per this news report, it is a Bolero SUV which was involved. Not sure if this correct.
https://www.ndtv.com/cities/9-member...isgarh-1931799

This was a Mahindra Scorpio (III Generation)

https://www.patrika.com/raipur-news/...jured-3568226/

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by prithm

Saw Ford Figo, i10 and couple of other hatchbacks struggling because they had their luggage upto the brim in boot with no visibility from inside cabin.

Yes, this road is tricky due to almost back to back hairpin bends. However, it is very much doable in any hatch. Infact, I had done this in my Alto 800 with 4 people and luggage for 2 days. However, you need to anticipate the bends and downshift. I have seen few drivers, trying to stick to one gear too long during a climb and then loose momentum while trying to downshift.

That said, the accidents reported on this route is not usually on vehicles which are climbing up, but those coming down the ghats. It is usually case of driving down in higher gears.

A school friend of mine is nowadays settled in Ooty, and he says about the general opinion among locals that tourist come over, get drunk, speed over ghat roads and cause accidents. I guess this perception may partly be the reason for local drives to have a very arrogant view towards non local vehicles.

As quoted below, I too have couple of experiences where local drives literally try to push you out of road especially around Masinagudi. I thought maybe I was unlucky to come across few bad apples, however when few of my friends also faced this in different trips, I am convinced that it is not a one off case.

and saw two commercial pickup trucks coming downhill flashing their high beams in my already dilated pupil. Since it was narrow and steep, I gunned my engine to escape from that bottleneck should these senseless drivers block and if I had to stop uphill.

[Rohit_Quad]

Originally Posted by sushil_n79

Hi Rohit
That was scary. Good that a major mishap was averted. Did you happen to meet the Alto guy and give him a piece of your mind?
The irritating thing is when we honk in situations like these, leave alone an apology, there is no acknowledgement.

Guess 60-80 is a safe bet for the highway filled with special people like these.

Regards
Sushil

@Sushil - i would have, but the Alto went off onto the slip road, into a the town/ village. I guess he didn't even realize what happened then and what would have happened if things went wrong that day. I remember seeing (in the ORVM) the Alto disappear slowly onto the slip road, still without the proper indicator turned on