[SS-Traveller]

Much has been written about lane markings and what they mean. For reference, here are a few links:

https://www.ctp.gov.in/RoadMarkings.htm

https://civiconcepts.com/blog/pavement-markings

https://www.civil.iitb.ac.in/tvm/110...ain/plain.html

Yet, the vast majority of drivers on Indian roads cannot stick to a single lane; if anything, they would persistently straddle lanes as if driving on a monorail, not a road. On undivided highways, the continuous dividing line in No Passing zones is violated more often than not, and one will frequently find oncoming traffic perilously overtaking each other on the wrong side of the road.

OTOH, lane markings in this country are not continuous, and following a particular lane may well lead to a wall or divider, with no indication that the lane ends up ahead. There are rarely any direction arrows indicating which lane to follow to take which turn.

Strangely enough, the traffic police in most (if not all) of the Indian States do not penalize lane violators, which has been leading to even more erratic driving, as hot-blooded young drivers often zigzag across the road at uncontrolled speeds.

This thread will try to put forward some basic rules and guidelines to survive this madness, and avoid crashes while driving because of lane changes without appropriate caution, whether by you or another vehicle.

[SS-Traveller]

https://youtu.be/sjwtE_zEdkU

Rule #1: Keep your car between two lane marker lines, even around a turn

Corollary 1: Do this as much as possible. If your lane is not clear, the first option would be to slow down and even stop, and not to change lanes without looking!

Corollary 2: Drive at a speed appropriate to a static visibility limit of 5 seconds for that lane.

This means that your speed around the curve in the pic above should be enough for you to arrive at that arrow (the furthest visible point around the curve when you spot it) 5 seconds after you spot it. This is also called

static CAS

. I shall explain what CAS is, in the next post.

On undivided roads, do not swing out to the opposite lane and obstruct oncoming vehicles if your lane is likely to be blocked.

On left-handed curves, do not drift into right lanes.

On right-handed curves, expect other cars to drift into your lane from your right, and increase your lateral CAS to compensate.

[SS-Traveller]

Rule #2: Leave enough CAS to avoid a CrASh

CAS stands for Crash Avoidance Space

So how much CAS is optimal?

Front:

The gap is measured in seconds, not metres. Most of us know this already, but how many seconds?
- 1.5 seconds at 40 kmph
- 2 seconds at 60 kmph
- 2.5 seconds at 80 kmph
- 3 seconds at 100 kmph
Since the distance varies with speed and surrounding moving traffic, this is called the

dynamic CAS

. Static CAS was mentioned in the previous post.

- Add 1 second for each additional hazard:

• Night driving
• Sand, gravel or rain (wet road)
• Tired driver (you)
• Poor visibility (rain)
• Fog (refer to separate thread at this link (Guidelines & Tips for Safe Driving in FOG))

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXmqnSNRWQo

Rear:

Equal gap as in the front. Though this is the responsibility of the driver coming up behind, one can compensate for tailgaters by adding a similar interval in front of one's own car.

Sides (Lateral CAS):

Enough space to open one's doors wide at all times (at least 1 metre on both sides). Never squeeze through gaps at speed, and never stop at a traffic light, leaving no space to open doors and get out.

https://youtu.be/1EcPYe_P060

DO NOT overtake between two vehicles when there is insufficient lateral CAS. It is wiser to wait till you can leave sufficient CAS before passing both vehicles. Watch how the gap is too little between the two trucks, but opens up later.

https://youtu.be/pGp02Bdp9YI

Lateral CAS on the highway saves you from potential crashes in case of sudden unexpected lane intrusions, such as in the video below (towards the latter part of the video).

https://youtu.be/d0ENe2VuUHs

Tip: To count the seconds, say "one thousand and one, two thousand and one, three thousand and one..." to yourself. We can comfortably utter 4 syllables per second. Even "one banana, two banana, three banana..." will do.

[SS-Traveller]

Rule #3: Make sure your lane is clear BEFORE STARTING an overtaking manoeuvre

The images below are self-explanatory.

Whether you overtake from the right, or as is common in India, from the left, the same rules apply. Make sure your lane as well as the merging zone is clear BEFORE flooring the A-pedal to overtake. While overtaking, make sure the lateral CAS on both sides is maintained as you pass the other vehicle.

DO NOT pass a heavily loaded / overloaded heavy vehicle slowly - complete the manoeuvre as quickly as possible. You don't want a tyre to burst while you are alongside (as happened to me - see video below), or for the driver to drift into your lane.

https://youtu.be/JOCSi4iNlcI

[SS-Traveller]

Rule #4: Merge back into a lane ahead of a vehicle, ONLY when you can see BOTH its headlights in your ORVM

This rule also applies when changing lanes to overtake or avoid a hazard in your lane.

ALWAYS INDICATE WHEN CHANGING LANES. No one likes surprises. Turn on the indicator 2-3 seconds before you change lanes, and not exactly when you are making your move.

Cutting in to the next lane too early ahead of another vehicle is a certain recipe for disaster. The video below highlights such an incident, where the car and driver got off lightly. Not sure where this video was sourced, but I would like to acknowledge the owner.

https://youtu.be/qq7bVI9GV-E

[SS-Traveller]

Rule #5: Where there are no / improper lane markings...

Improper lanes: Sometimes, lanes may be inappropriately marked, and not wide enough to accommodate a vehicle in between the lines (see pic below). In such cases, position your car, if possible, to allow another vehicle alongside without compromising your lateral CAS. If it is not possible to do this, position your vehicle such that the car behind cannot overtake you or come alongside in a dangerously close manner.

Lanes that lead into dead ends: Do not trust lanes to lead you correctly in India. So many times, lane markers do not curve according to the curvature of the road. Be spatially aware.

Vehicle ahead of you suddenly intruding into your lane: Watch the front tyre of the vehicle ahead of you. It is a dead giveaway that someone is about to cut you off.

https://youtu.be/12ZvMk6VwPA

[SS-Traveller]

Rule #6: Scan the road and your mirrors by moving your head and eyes regularly while driving

Your peripheral vision tends to blur after a while, and you do not detect hazards early in adjacent lanes, or approaching from behind or the sides.

[Eddy]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Rule #4: Merge back into a lane ahead of a vehicle, ONLY when you can see BOTH its headlights in your ORVM

This rule also applies when changing lanes to overtake or avoid a hazard in your lane.

ALWAYS INDICATE WHEN CHANGING LANES. No one likes surprises. Turn on the indicator 2-3 seconds before you change lanes, and not exactly when you are making your move.

Corollary to Rule #4: It is imperative to perform a head check (aka a shoulder check) before changing lanes or turning. This eliminates the chance of getting hit by vehicles in your mirror blind spots.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ4w63wZyFQ

Finally, here is a video, about how to change lanes in an ideal world (read: NOT India!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkUcOUFusPQ

[SPIKE ARRESTOR]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

https://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=pkUcOUFusPQ

Lovely thread to read on a Sunday morning

A small observation, the shoulder check from the girl in this video is a bit too much, she is almost turning around and looking backwards. I used to do the same some years back until my "Fahrlehrer" (Driving Instructor) pointed this out and corrected me.

Spike

[TheHelix0202]

Very useful tips for everyone! Sharing it with some beginner drivers too.

Defensive driving must go hand in hand with Indian roads. You never know which fool will land you in a soup and when.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by SPIKE ARRESTOR

Lovely thread to read on a Sunday morning

Thank you.

Originally Posted by SPIKE ARRESTOR

A small observation, the shoulder check from the girl in this video is a bit too much, she is almost turning around and looking backwards. I used to do the same some years back until my "Fahrlehrer" (Driving Instructor) pointed this out and corrected me.

Yes, I'd noticed that too - a very exaggerated head check. Ideally, a 45-degree turn of the neck for just one second (or less) allows the brain to pick up the presence of another vehicle in one's blind spot with the help of peripheral vision. The girl is turning her neck over 90 degrees, while looking for over 2 seconds. This is dangerous as one loses forward sight completely for that time.

[Bibendum90949]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Yet, the vast majority of drivers on Indian roads cannot stick to a single lane; if anything, they would persistently straddle lanes as if driving on a monorail, not a road. On undivided highways, the continuous dividing line in No Passing zones is violated more often than not, and one will frequently find oncoming traffic perilously overtaking each other on the wrong side of the road.

There's just one reason I feel for the constant straying to adjacent lanes - most of them just DON'T KNOW the purpose and importance of the lane markers. This is the only thing that irks me no end while driving. And the one who knows it would absent mindedly straddle once a while. The accidents on highways can be curtailed to a great extent if every single motorist out there follows lane discipline.

A brilliant thread indeed . Thank you for the compilation. I'm sharing it in all relevant groups.

[goenkakushal]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Corollary to Rule #4: It is imperative to perform a head check (aka a shoulder check) before changing lanes or turning. This eliminates the chance of getting hit by vehicles in your mirror blind spots.


Finally, here is a video, about how to change lanes in an ideal world (read: NOT India!)

I remember my elderly uncle in USA changing lanes like this.
I am sure he was avoiding any blind spots before he changed the lane, but in that process of looking behind for a second or two the vehicle used to move away from the center of the lane, as his concentration was not on the steering.
This can be more dangerous.

[ninjatalli]

Excellent thread. I'd add two minor but relevant points

1. Use indicators prior to shifting lanes. Even during day. Get into the habit of doing this even if there's no vehicle behind you on any of the lanes. One day when it'll matter, the habit will make it's worth felt.

2. Do not blindly follow what the vehicle in front of you is doing (while changing lanes, overtaking, etc.) - get visibility and then take the decision. Doesn't matter what's in front of you, if it's a big car/truck/bus, you don't have the visibility of what's ahead of that vehicle. If it's a 2-wheeler/auto, you don't have the luxury of the easy of maneuverability of such leaner/smaller sized vehicles.