[vina]

Originally Posted by MandarMax

...

One of my friends follows rules so strictly that he uses indicators even when turning into his apartment parking lot
...

What's wrong with that man - even I do it.

The other day a young neighbour was in a hurry on his Pulsar and wouldn't slow down even though I was reversing my car into my parking - I even had to honk to get the idiot's attention - he was trying to go around me from behind my reversing car (and indicators etc. were all on)

[MandarMax]

Originally Posted by vina

What's wrong with that man - even I do it.

The other day a young neighbour was in a hurry on his Pulsar and wouldn't slow down even though I was reversing my car into my parking - I even had to honk to get the idiot's attention - he was trying to go around me from behind my reversing car (and indicators etc. were all on)

The example was in a different context, but probably I did not make it clearer. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using indicator when parking, but I was giving this example because my friend has two adjacent parking lots in a building where there are only 6 parking lots, and there are no other parking lots on the side where his parking is. There is absolutely no chance of anyone else driving there, yet he uses indicators because he's so used to it. Hope you understand my point.

PS: I was trying to click the quote button but by mistake clicked "Thanks" above. Dear Mods - is there a way to undo that?

[Speed.Demon]

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

While coming back from office yesterday, this bus driver was literally driving on the middle of the road doing 10km/hr (a rare sight, buses usually fly here). I honked him and flashed my lights but he still kept the middle of the road. There wasnt any gap for us to overtake. Other cars joined him but he still didnt move. I could see from his rear view mirror that he was making comments and laughing. Somehow I found a gap, overtook the bus and stopped right in front of him which made him stop. Then I just drove off.

Naveen, I had a really bad experience with a private bus as well.
This morning I was on my way towards Oberon. When approaching the Edapally Bypass signal there was this bus doing around 40km/hr or so. I honked twice and he moved over to the side and he indicated with his hand that I could overtake him. I downshifted and was at his rear quarter, gaining speed when all of a sudden he turned fully to the right lane, almost crushing my car. I had to brake really hard, and since my car doesnt have ABS, the whole car skidded and turned sideways before halting!!!

This was a first for me, so I was sitting in the car with my heart banging before a kind gentleman who was right behind me and he saw the whole thing in his Ikon. He rolled down his window and asked if I was all right. That's when I came back to my senses and carried on, before I caused a pile up of traffic in an already crowded area..

Sheesh, I really wish I could have done some kind of payback to him!!!

[Thad E Ginathom]

Regarding cutting corners, I don't think it's ever fine to cut corners because if a person follows best practices, and drives safely, it becomes kind of second nature and even on empty roads having good visibility, you would not (and should not) break any rules. One of my friends follows rules so strictly that he uses indicators even when turning into his apartment parking lot

I do that sort of thing. Actually, the UK Highway Code says something about using signals when it will help others, but, so far as Indicators are concerned, my brain is hard-wired to use them, whether others are around or not.

So far as the open road is concerned, the "correct" thing is to "straighten out" the curves as much a possible. Yes, India differs in that people will even cut a blind corner. The road always belongs 100% to them.

[nileshch]

Originally Posted by Speed.Demon

Naveen, I had a really bad experience with a private bus as well
...

Sheesh, I really wish I could have done some kind of payback to him!!!

I had an exactly same experience on the Mysore Madikeri road when coming back to Bangalore. A slow driving private bus driver was offended when I honked and flashed (albeit in a nice way) to overtake him. He allowed me half way through and then suddenly cornered me against the divider . I slowed down immediately and calmed down for a few seconds. Then overtook him from the left side at the first opportunity. I too wished I could teach him a lesson in some way. But a few minutes later, was happy didn't do anything silly. A puny Zen against a multi-axle bus would have been a no-contest!!

[Shubz]

Originally Posted by Dieseldunk

Hi

+1 to that.
in the pic the white car(on the right of the estillo) is also parked in the same manner so who followed whom and why is big question.

No sir, the white car is parked rightly. Thats the last slot for that (white) car. The estilo owner is the idiot.

[naveen.raju]

Originally Posted by Speed.Demon

Naveen, I had a really bad experience with a private bus as well.
This morning I was on my way towards Oberon. When approaching the Edapally Bypass signal there was this bus doing around 40km/hr or so. I honked twice and he moved over to the side and he indicated with his hand that I could overtake him. I downshifted and was at his rear quarter, gaining speed when all of a sudden he turned fully to the right lane, almost crushing my car. I had to brake really hard, and since my car doesnt have ABS, the whole car skidded and turned sideways before halting!!!

This was a first for me, so I was sitting in the car with my heart banging before a kind gentleman who was right behind me and he saw the whole thing in his Ikon. He rolled down his window and asked if I was all right. That's when I came back to my senses and carried on, before I caused a pile up of traffic in an already crowded area..

Sheesh, I really wish I could have done some kind of payback to him!!!

That's bad, especially when it's your first time experiencing something like this. Lucky nothing happened to you.

Similar case happened to me but that time I wasnt lucky. The bus banged my car and I was pushed over the median. All this solely because of the bus driver's fault. Other motorists stopped the bus and pulled the bus driver out. Took him to the station and all I got is 5k. The car was brand new clocking just 500kms. . The left side of the car was completely damaged right from the front headlights to the rear wheel arch.

All I can say is be careful while overtaking. They cut the lanes really fast with/without any indication.

[Dieseldunk]

Originally Posted by MandarMax

The example was in a different context, but probably I did not make it clearer. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using indicator when parking, but I was giving this example because my friend has two adjacent parking lots in a building where there are only 6 parking lots, and there are no other parking lots on the side where his parking is. There is absolutely no chance of anyone else driving there, yet he uses indicators because he's so used to it. Hope you understand my point.

PS: I was trying to click the quote button but by mistake clicked "Thanks" above. Dear Mods - is there a way to undo that?

Hi

Do you mean to say he qualifies for a bad driver then may be we are wrong but if you are telling it is a redundant act then guess it may be Ok

[Speed.Demon]

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

Similar case happened to me but that time I wasnt lucky. The bus banged my car and I was pushed over the median. All this solely because of the bus driver's fault. Other motorists stopped the bus and pulled the bus driver out. Took him to the station and all I got is 5k. The car was brand new clocking just 500kms. . The left side of the car was completely damaged right from the front headlights to the rear wheel arch.

Man, that's really bad luck. Such an experience on a brand new car!!!
I really hope you didnt get hurt.
Was this with the swift or the vento? At least the people helped to catch the driver and took him to the police, in my case the driver just zoomed away..

[MandarMax]

Originally Posted by Dieseldunk

Hi

Do you mean to say he qualifies for a bad driver then may be we are wrong but if you are telling it is a redundant act then guess it may be Ok

No no no, you all got me wrong there. I absolutely did not mean to give that example as a bad thing, but more to show that people who always follow rules will continue to follow them even if it looks redundant.

When driving, I do a lot of redundant looking things myself and as Thad said above it's "hard-wired" into my brain. (and I am sure many other people).

[DieselLover]

Originally Posted by Speed.Demon

Man, that's really bad luck. Such an experience on a brand new car!!!
I really hope you didnt get hurt.
Was this with the swift or the vento? At least the people helped to catch the driver and took him to the police, in my case the driver just zoomed away..

Majority of Private bus drivers in Kochi are goons. I expect and prepare for the worst every time I overtake a them or whenever they come near me. They get very rude and abuse you if we try to confront or question them.

But they (bus & tipper truck drivers) know the kind of "public support" they have and try to run away right after they cause an accident.

[naveen.raju]

Originally Posted by Speed.Demon

Man, that's really bad luck. Such an experience on a brand new car!!!
I really hope you didnt get hurt.
Was this with the swift or the vento? At least the people helped to catch the driver and took him to the police, in my case the driver just zoomed away..

Yes, indeed a bad luck. This happened to my Swift. Even the cops asked me "brand new car uh.. so sad".

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by MandarMax

When driving, I do a lot of redundant looking things myself and as Thad said above it's "hard-wired" into my brain. (and I am sure many other people).

I haven't driven outside India for two or three years now I wonder how many of my Indian driving habits have now become hard-wired?

[rajeev k]

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

@IronH4WK - A common sight all over India.

Saw one really bad driver yesterday evening.
Guess, all might know how private buses are in Cochin. They drive as if they own the road and expect others to give way when they honk.

While coming back from office yesterday, this bus driver was literally driving on the middle of the road doing 10km/hr (a rare sight, buses usually fly here). I honked him and flashed my lights but he still kept the middle of the road. There wasnt any gap for us to overtake. Other cars joined him but he still didnt move. I could see from his rear view mirror that he was making comments and laughing. Somehow I found a gap, overtook the bus and stopped right in front of him which made him stop. Then I just drove off.

Originally Posted by DieselLover

I like doing this to private buses. But we need to ensure that they will not chase us down later on

The Kochi private bus drivers deserve this. They think they own the city roads.

Originally Posted by Speed.Demon

Naveen, I had a really bad experience with a private bus as well.
This morning I was on my way towards Oberon. When approaching the Edapally Bypass signal there was this bus doing around 40km/hr or so. I honked twice and he moved over to the side and he indicated with his hand that I could overtake him. I downshifted and was at his rear quarter, gaining speed when all of a sudden he turned fully to the right lane, almost crushing my car. I had to brake really hard, and since my car doesnt have ABS, the whole car skidded and turned sideways before halting!!!

This was a first for me, so I was sitting in the car with my heart banging before a kind gentleman who was right behind me and he saw the whole thing in his Ikon. He rolled down his window and asked if I was all right. That's when I came back to my senses and carried on, before I caused a pile up of traffic in an already crowded area..

Sheesh, I really wish I could have done some kind of payback to him!!!

This maneuver is done by many car, auto drivers and bikers. It is thier instant reflex action,without looking the ORVM they cut across to the right.

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

That's bad, especially when it's your first time experiencing something like this. Lucky nothing happened to you.

Similar case happened to me but that time I wasnt lucky. The bus banged my car and I was pushed over the median. All this solely because of the bus driver's fault. Other motorists stopped the bus and pulled the bus driver out. Took him to the station and all I got is 5k. The car was brand new clocking just 500kms. . The left side of the car was completely damaged right from the front headlights to the rear wheel arch.

All I can say is be careful while overtaking. They cut the lanes really fast with/without any indication.

True need to have a defensive approach always when you are behind the wheel.

Originally Posted by DieselLover

Majority of Private bus drivers in Kochi are goons. I expect and prepare for the worst every time I overtake a them or whenever they come near me. They get very rude and abuse you if we try to confront or question them.

But they (bus & tipper truck drivers) know the kind of "public support" they have and try to run away right after they cause an accident.

If we repay in the same coin, they would not retaliate. One rider, you should be in a KL7 car. If we happen to drive other regn cars, even if we are parked the auto guys and private bus cleaners nee Kilis would try to intimidate,

This is common every where. In Trivandrum the blue private buses tried to do it to me in a KL7, but as we are baptised by fire with the Red private buses the attempts were futile.

[Tommie]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

I haven't driven outside India for two or three years now I wonder how many of my Indian driving habits have now become hard-wired?

Here is some tips to make sure that one can drive good abroad especially in USA.

Driving in the USA


I am an avid driver on the Indian Roads for the more than 20 years. Most of my initial years rides were on Motor bikes and then started *really* driving car since 2000 even though I had a valid driving license earlier. I would have clocked over 100,000 Kms on bike and car each (total 200K+ Km). Does it automatically myself an expert driver in other countries and especially on the other side( Left Hand Drive) of the road.

Definitely not, you need to know the rules of the land including the 'right of way'. I am pretty confident that I am not going to hit on some one else with the over cautious driving in India. However, the US driving system will not issue a Driving License if you are too cautious, as they expect an over cautious driver can create messy accidents as the regular drivers would get confused.


I had great difficulity in adjusting to US roads in my recent trip and was even scared to take a rented car to drive in high density traffic places like San Francisco Bay Area. If you new to the Left Handed driving system here are my quick thumb rules
a) Make sure the car you wish to drive has an Insurance for you as the driver and also have a GPS device with voice navigation
b) I would first suggest you to sit on the seat behind the driver and then on the front seat to get a feel of the driving system, signals and the sign boards
c) Learn all the controls of the car (incl the cruise control if the car has one) before taking on the wheel.
d) Take a look at all the videos posted below so that you understand the rules of the land
e) Make sure that you are going to drive on a road that you have commonly been on. Eg. Hotel to office or back. Dont ever try a new road until you have successfully completed and confident with the roads that you have seen atleast once.
f) Make sure someone else is with you who has done at least 1000 miles on US roads.

Rules of the Road (click on the links below)


1.

Introduction

2.

Vehicle Safety

3.

Traffic Lanes

4.

Road Signs

5.

Speed Limits

6.

Intersections

7.

Signal Intersections

8.

Lane Change

9.

Turns

10.

Right of Way

11.

Parking

12.

Rest Stop

13.

Scanning

14.

Signalling and Merging

15.

Keeping Distance

16.

Passing

17.

HeadLights

18.

Hazardous Conditions