[sarathlal]

Originally Posted by MT_Hyderabad

Rumble strips are useless in the Indian Heavy Vehicle context.

Rumble strips are a big menace now.
At places, they are kept in really short succession and with extreme thickness that causes the cars to rattle inside out and for two wheelers to lose grip (especially on wet conditions).

Originally Posted by Arwin07

Common sense, sensible driving in slower speeds would have averted the accident. Electronic stability control could have brought the SUV under control.

We all need to be carefully following the speed limits posted, especially those that are just before curves and bends. If one goes above it, very high chances of not able to keep vehicle within the lanes.

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

That overtaking biker should have left several feet between him and the woman he is overtaking. This senseless, stupid, dangerous ignorance of a safe gap is one of the most frustrating things to be seen almost all the time on the roads.

Exactly!
Along with this, the 'gearless' scooter penetration has caused almost everyone to ride a two wheeler. Its scary to see how few people ride a bike like a snake wavering in and out of lanes, just because they are not able to simply balance it.
They also weave in through traffic and go stand right next to the left corner of bike buses and lorries waiting in blocks. Blindspot, whats that

[MT_Hyderabad]

In the meantime, an accident of a different kind.

After looking at the accident, I learned that it will be good to turn any flashing light off to save yourself in such a situation.

https://youtu.be/lZKf-cTk29I

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by GutsyGibbon

Several feet of gap is wishful thinking on our roads. That, would certainly help though.

No, the space is usually there, but they will not use it. Or else they put themselves where there is no space.

[fhdowntheline]

Originally Posted by MT_Hyderabad

In the meantime, an accident of a different kind.

After looking at the accident, I learned that it will be good to turn any flashing light off to save yourself in such a situation.

The more you encroach wild life habitats, the more frequently these things will occur. Another reminder that we are not the only entitled animals on this earth.

[Latheesh]

The guy who is speaking knows the animal behavior well. He warned others that it is more dangerous than an elephant. He even predicted the attack. He also guided the driver when and how to move ahead.

[RaviK]

When too many things go wrong at same time.. really tragic (car gets crushed under the truck)..!!

Warning: viewer discretion advised

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/punj...tv_m_topscroll

[drsingh]

This is just tragic.

https://m.tribuneindia.com/news/punj...hes-car-431297

https://youtu.be/9z9E_fDCCfo

[AttyBhai]

Originally Posted by MT_Hyderabad

Rumble strips are useless in the Indian Heavy Vehicle context.

https://Youtu.be/DfF38ICbFNo

The truck's brake may have failed too.

Police car video in between is useless. Just depicting quick police response.

A lot of rumble strips are very unscientifically placed on our roads. Our politicians, policemen, and safety activists seem to think it is the silver bullet to bad road behaviour.

At that high speed - on a curve - when you hit the strips your steering goes wobbly and you could easily lose control.

Plus the truck must have been overloaded and from the video, the load wasn't properly balanced - And so........

[arnabbhagabati]

Originally Posted by MT_Hyderabad

I am surprised to see the condition of modern cars after an accident.
The BMW above is just gone forever.

Anyways, another Indian Highway; Another Cow running across. Luckily, this guy had what it takes to avoid a head on collision. No panic braking, kept the car under control and saved a few lives.
https://Youtu.be/LxZ-xrw_y7U

Apologies for a late reply on an old post.

I was wondering - my natural response in the same position would have been to swerve to right lane and brake moderately(to avoid losing control - don't want to hit the divider), considering
- right lane was empty
- animal in question is moving left.

However most people on this forum seem to favor the driver's response (swerving left), so obviously there is something wrong in my thought process.

Would really love some enlightment on this from other folks - this can make a big difference some day

[Arwin07]

Accident CCTV:

https://youtu.be/H61zUCzaCJ4

Aftermath fire:

https://youtu.be/l1HUrVK8Wxg

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...w/94055988.cms

A 17 year old died as his two wheeler collided with bus in Oddanchathiram, Tamilnadu. The deceased and two others were 17 year old XII students riding triples in a motorcycle. The deceased boy was celebrating his birthday.

The petrol tank of the motorcycle burst in the collision and the deceased burnt to death on the spot. The other two pillions managed to escape with injuries. The bus passengers were unhurt.

From the CCTV, the government bus was overtaking a lorry on a flyover. The motorcycle emerged from blindspot behind a private bus coming in opposite direction and tried to overtake the private bus.

When a vehicle in front of you swerves, follow it. There is something in front they are trying to avoid that you can't see. The private bus swerves to left to avoid the government bus overtaking the lorry. The boys on motorcycle thought it as an overtaking opportunity.

The government bus overtaking on a flyover, a 17 year old without driving license riding a motorcycle, riding motorcycle as triples, motorcycle trying to overtake on a flyover.

RIP.

[tazmaan]

Originally Posted by Arwin07

A 17 year old died as his two wheeler collided with bus in Oddanchathiram, Tamilnadu. The deceased and two others were 17 year old XII students riding triples in a motorcycle.

Both are equally at fault. The bus drivers mentality of the road belongs to them and everyone else will move out is menace. The bikers mentality that any available gap is for taking is pest like on the roads. Bus drivers will bully you every time on the road and bikers will squeeze past unimaginable gaps. In one case there is no care for other people's lives and in other there is no care for their own life.

Not generalizing and not all of them are like that but a vast majority of them are. On my recent drive to Goa last week, I had to avoid a state bus on Amboli ghat overtaking on hair pin bends and I don't even remember how many bikers I had to save by taking defensive measures.

RIP

[for_cars1]

Originally Posted by Arwin07

The government bus overtaking on a flyover...

This is the root of the problem in this case and 100% of the fault is with the Bus driver.
All other actions/events are consequential.

[rainmaster]

Originally Posted by Arwin07

Accident CCTV:

A 17 year old died as his two wheeler collided with bus in Oddanchathiram, Tamilnadu. The deceased and two others were 17 year old XII students riding triples in a motorcycle. The deceased boy was celebrating his birthday.

RIP.

We as a society takes driving for granted. We don’t understand it’s a privilege and needs to be earned. Too many things were wrong in above accident

• Government Bus overtaking heavy vehicle on a flyover , no empathy for other riders/drivers.
• Under age kid driving two wheeler that too with triples in a motorcycle.
• Trying to overtake from blind spot , two wheeler doesn’t have clear view of road ahead but decided to overtake bus.
• Parents of deceased student, instead of discouraging their under age kids from driving, they encourage under age driving practices. In fact there are lot of proud parents and false bravado around boasting their under age kids driving two/four wheelers at young age.

When a two wheeler is involved in an accident, no matter what, two wheeler pays the heavy penalty. It’s painful to see loss of some loved ones in a completely preventable accident. Personally, I had drastically reduced two wheeler usage .Too many random factors decides two wheeler safety in Indian roads. Defensive driving is the only defense we have until behavioral improvements are brought in by authorities , which might not happen in my life time .

[supremeBaleno]

Originally Posted by arnabbhagabati

my natural response in the same position would have been to swerve to right lane and brake moderately(to avoid losing control - don't want to hit the divider), considering
- right lane was empty
- animal in question is moving left.
However most people on this forum seem to favor the driver's response (swerving left), so obviously there is something wrong in my thought process.

Cattle typically continue moving in the direction they are headed, without going backwards, unlike dogs whose behaviour is unpredictable.
So normal logic is to pass cattle from their rear - in this case, from the right.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by tazmaan

Both are equally at fault. ...

Originally Posted by for_cars1

... 100% of the fault is with the Bus driver. ...

I disagree strongly.

The overtaking bus driver is indeed wrong to be doing so in the face of oncoming traffic. This does not make him responsible for the idiot coming suddenly from the blind spot immediately behind the oncoming bus.

On top of all the other lessons mentioned by others, is the bad habit of treating immediately behind (tailgating, in fact) as the position from which to overtake. This is common in drivers of cars, bikes and others. It is especially a big no-no when there is no visibility through a large vehicle.

The biker is moving out into the unknown, and it turned lethal. How stupid is that, when, from further behind, he could have moved slightly right to check the oncoming traffic etc. From that position he could have got out of the way and would be alive.

This, coupled with the completely ignorant failure to see a vehicle moving out of its line and ask himself why ended his young life.

Those are the two most salient points, according to me. Other things, including the faulty driving of others, are the incidental things.