[chaitanyakrish]

Originally Posted by kutts

But she of course doesn't understand the meaning of the double yellow cross line.

I don't understand the need for double solid lines when there's a right turn allowed.
Road markings in India are not in sync with the road design.

[aravind.anand]

Originally Posted by RM Motorsports

I guess the woman is already in trouble. All fingers pointing towards her.





https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/.../114711162.cms

So the convoy was within speed limits as per them?

What if it was an old man crossing the road, or cattle? where will they shift the blame in those cases?

And they said India is a democratic country that is the government of the people, for the people, by the people!

[deathwalkr]

Regarding the KL CM accident, Don't you think the Pilot car was trying to avoid the biker who was behind the first lady rider who turned?

The solo lady rider was well ahead of the convoy and the pilot car could have just kept going straight, but the second bike who had stopped could have caused the pilot car to come to a sudden halt?

[PreludeSH]

The convoys always drive at higher speed. The first one will have police peeping their heads out and asking everyone to go to the side or even get off the road and allow them to go

On Mysuru toll road, they stop us from using one of the gates because the god themselves are arriving at break neck speed in few minutes and they can't wait at gates behind mortal humans.

We need some kind of hard reboot in our country.

[CARDEEP]

On the Kerala CM accident, I'm security convoy side. We have a VIP culture (sorry but that's it in our country with any Tom, Dick or Harry being a VIP), they are blaring sirens, yet the lady on scooter pays no hoots. They have a tough time protecting any person & this is the CM of State.

I have waited on a bus stop for 3+ hours just to cross road to my home when Manmohan Singh was travelling to Airport & my residence was in Sarojini Nagar, New Delhi. At least they are allowing movement on road at that time.

What if that was an ambulance with a critical patient? We have seen instances in Kerala, TN & North East where people have voluntarily helped in such incidents.

What if any attack happens on this or other so called VIP? There are several incidents in recent past where VIPs & government properties are attacked by disgruntled youth.

Plus what is the harm in letting wait to someone we put in pedestal with our votes for governance (essentially a convenience we need for an organised society).

[the.dogfather]

The CM convoy incident, like many other high speed convoy accidents we have seen , show that speed limits and traffic rules need to be followed even if you are a VIP. Yes, their time may be more important as compared to us lesser mortals, but I then also believe that their lives are also more important.

Such accidents clearly show that the drivers of these cars are also humans and do not have sufficient training to handle high speed driving. If you are a convoy, that doesn't exempt you from the rules of physics and the braking distance would not come down just because you have a VIP badge on your car or are blaring a siren (not sure if the beacon would add some drag and reduce the distance a bit). The drivers must be trained to handle exceptions like this better and maintain distances in a convoy.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

I think it varies from country to country and definitely not clear in India. Double yellow lines are to designate that vehicles must not cross into oncoming traffic lanes. As far as I know, it does not disallow turning into side roads or residences or commercial premises. Of course, this turn is subjected to hyper local traffic restrictions if clearly marked. Happy to be corrected of course!

On another note, that convoy was certainly driving too fast with no safety margin. On KL’s abysmally narrow and crowded streets this was inevitable.

Originally Posted by chaitanyakrish

I don't understand the need for double solid lines when there's a right turn allowed.

In Britain, solid double white lines (or even a single solid line on your side) must not be crossed for overtaking. Junctions/turnings etc will usually be marked accordingly (British road design is over-engineered!), but you can cross the lines to, eg, enter a gateway. Double yellow lines will be at the side of the road and means a ban on stopping/parking. A "yellow box" (with diagonal lines) may be there at junctions. It is forbidden to enter the box if your way is not clear to leave it. This prevents jamming crossing traffic. It is actually a good idea and works well if respected. Cameras may catch you if you don't.

Oh, white lines with //// inside are, as mentioned, to be treated like a solid divider. The will sometimes be there just before one, to help usher traffic into the right lane/side.

Please forgive any wrong British-Highway-Code detail: I know I'm mostly right, but it's been a looong time now since I actually drove in my mother country!

Originally Posted by the.dogfather

The CM convoy incident ... ... ... the drivers of these cars are also humans and do not have sufficient training to handle high speed driving.

That dominoes accident is almost comical. That such people do not get highly trained drivers for their cars and convoy vehicles is unbelievable!

In Britain there is a very posh, very expensive school for nannies (including male and female). These people are taught every detail of child care. And they are even taught... advanced driving. The school has a waiting list of employers and a highly-paid job awaits every graduate, who is bound to be employed by some wealthy aristocratic or business family. They are not only taught defensive driving in the sense that we, here, usually use the words: they are taught defence against attack driving. If they have to smash their way out of an ambush, for instance, they have been taught. The attacker are not taking on novices.

This is what VIP kids in Britain (and other countries) can get. Surely we can do as well for our VIPs? Army or police drivers?

[SuperGirl_Dad]

Originally Posted by itspatra

Just received a video of the Convoy of the CM of Kerala involved in a accident. No one seems to be hurt.

Looks like lack of ABS led to the comical crash. The last vehicle was able to easily perform evasive maneuver to the adjacent lane while braking.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by SuperGirl_Dad

Looks like lack of ABS led to the comical crash.

I haven't been back to check the video again, but... No. It was a straight-line crash (errm, pile-up). ABS probably wouldn't make much difference. It was entirely caused by lack of driving skill. Ignorance of stopping distance. Arrogance that they think they can
stop or won't need to. Every driver is responsible, but there should be some sort of convoy management. Perhaps there isn't. But if there is, that person should be out of a job.

[StrykerEV05]

Originally Posted by itspatra

Just received a video of the Convoy of the CM of Kerala involved in a accident. No one seems to be hurt.
https://Youtu.be/ZeG43OxY0KI

I don't think we should blame the VIP Culture here. This has to be one of the most humble CM Convoys I have come across. Usually CM convoys have 20+ cars (with 4-5 identical VIP cars such that people don't know which car the CM is in). Traffic Police personnel are deputed atleast 10 mins ahead of the convoy on all intersections and they stop movement of all vehicles.

As someone mentioned earlier the unskilled drivers are probably the cause, but i wouldn't blame them too much. The cars trailing in the convoy- Bolero and the Force Ambulance will not be able to stop as quickly as vehicles like Innova Crysta and Kia Carnival. There was a mechanical limitation. Convoy planners should keep cars with higher stopping distance towards the front.
The Carnival in this convoy is a previous gen one right? That didn't come with ADAS. The driver of that car (CM Car) stopped very quickly, i didn't expect that huge car to not collide with the car ahead.

[Entsurgeon]

Kindly allow me to point out the factual error and misconception cited in your post.

Originally Posted by ashkamath

If the driver saw the biker, then it leads to a tricky situation.

The driver is on main road and has the right of way.
The biker is joining the mainroad from a narrow road..He doesn't have the right of way or precedence over the car driver.

Correct.

Originally Posted by ashkamath

In India, you give way to the vehicle on your right.

Incorrect or partially correct. This thing applies only while entering a roundabout. Basically in a country like ours with left hand drive system, any vehicle thats already in the roundabout would be coming from your right side. You have to let those vehicles pass who are already in the roundabout before you enter into it. This rule nowhere applies to the said situation.

Originally Posted by ashkamath

So on the road, if at any point, two vehicles happen to be side by side ( as in overtaking), then the vehicle on the right has the right of way and precedence over the vehicle on left. That's why in India, the rule is that you always overtake from the right side and never from the left side.

Incorrect.
The remaining analysis is also not right as its not based on correct fact.
Both of them not slowing down would hence means the car driver was within his right to carry on without slowing down.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by StrykerEV05

I don't think we should blame the VIP Culture here. This has to be one of the most humble CM Convoys I have come across.

I am absolutely not blaming the CM personally. I'm blaming all the drivers, and the management of the situation. Yes, here in Chennai, the movement of a Chief Minister is a much bigger thing, with goodness knows how many police involved on and around the route. Even as a pedestrian, I've been chased away from the road edge and told to stay as far back as possible. As a security issue, I can respect that. As a safety/security issue, maybe Kerala should get a bit more VIP-culture, and I mean in the right sort of way. TN, these days, seems to be quite good at this stuff. Or... maybe I only think that because we no longer have a CM that takes regular trips on my main road (ECR) so I don't see the delays so much.

[ashkamath]

Originally Posted by Entsurgeon

Kindly allow me to point out the factual error and misconception cited in your post.
Correct.

Incorrect.
The remaining analysis is also not right as its not based on correct fact.
Both of them not slowing down would hence means the car driver was within his right to carry on without slowing down.

Thanks for pointing out the errors.

So on the road, if at any point, two vehicles happen to be side by side (as in overtaking), then the vehicle on the right has the right of way and precedence over the vehicle on left.

I based the above statement based on Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017 where under the "Right of Way" section, it mentions

A vehicle shall be overtaken only from the right side: Provided that a vehicle may be overtaken from the left, if-
the vehicle which is to overtake and the vehicle which is to be overtaken are both driving on a multi-lane road and the vehicle ahead can be safely overtaken in a marked lane to the left of the vehicle being overtaken;
the vehicle to be overtaken is either turning right or making a ‘U’ turn from the centre of the road and is giving a signal to turn and it would be safe to overtake it from the left; or
the vehicle to be overtaken is stationary and it is safe to pass it from the left.

Ofcourse, I do agree your POV in the given context.

Both of them not slowing down would hence means the car driver was within his right to carry on without slowing down.

If both vehicles are on the main road and the bike was overtaking the car from the right side, then if the bike is faster and if it is safer, that's the way to do it and that was what I intended to say. However the biker was joining the road from a bylane and the car driver being on the main road had the right of way.

Rules and regulations aside, I have been driving / riding for over 4 decades now (since 1976-77) and when ever I see a vehicle on my right side coming at almost my speed or more (in the given instance, the biker) I invariably slow down and allow the vehicle pass. Personally I take it upon myself to be on the safer side and slow down when I see a vehicle in my peripheral vision, which I believe the car driver might have seen. I don't push in such circumstances as I know the consequences have to be borne by all involved.

Yes. In the given context of the video, I agree that the only right of way was for the car and not the biker in any way.

[SuperGirl_Dad]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

I haven't been back to check the video again, but... No. It was a straight-line crash (errm, pile-up). ABS probably wouldn't make much difference. It was entirely caused by lack of driving skill. Ignorance of stopping distance. Arrogance that they think they can
stop or won't need to. Every driver is responsible, but there should be some sort of convoy management. Perhaps there isn't. But if there is, that person should be out of a job.

Ignorance and arrogance is definitely a cause here, no doubting that.
As for ABS; slowed the video by frames



ABS does give the opportunity to steer away from the crashed vehicle in front. Is the tempo van an Ambulance?

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by SuperGirl_Dad

ABS does give the opportunity to steer

Yes indeed. It attempts to prevent the wheels from locking and going into a skid. Whilst it might, a little, one should never rely on ABS to reduce stopping distance. But by enabling the wheels to keep grip, it gives the chance of steering.