[sajo]

You dont "deal" with VIP convoys, you "avoid" them. Like the plague, if you can help it.
Once on a single carriageway section of the NH9 , I was driving sedately with my mum , when suddenly I see a police Sumo barrelling right at me on the wrong side. The driver was steering with the left hand and frantically waving all traffic on the "correct" side of the road to move aside with the right. I had no option but to slam my brakes and get off the road, to allow "safe" passage to ministerji and his convoy of 10-15 SUVs.

[bruiser]

Sorry to hear about the incident mate.
And welcome to the JUNGLE, yeah you read it right, JUNGLE.
Thats what India is, no less no more. These morons will never learn, dont you know this already? Are you not aware of the sorry state of affairs will live in?

I can understand your reaction, but I would suggest, if faced with a similar situation again, stay calm and start counting back from 20. It helps, been doing this for a while on Delhi roads and it has worked well for me so far.

[born_free]

This reminds of the recent incident on my kashmir trip.

We along with a group of 10 were being driven on a Tata Winger vehicle on road from Srinagar to Pahalgam.
We encountered an army convoy consisting of Gypsys and other SUV's. There must be at least six army vehicles moving back to back on a two lane highway.

As soon as our driver tries to overtake the army vehicles, an army jawan on gypsy pointed fingers signalling not to overtake and we have continue tailing them slowly until we found a stop to take a break.
Did not see the army convoy for rest of journey.

[mayankjha1806]

I dont drive anywhere near VIP convoy, i ensure either i am well ahead of them or i am way behind them, because if you are anywhere close they will HONK and trouble you and everyone in the car. They make a lot of noise with siren and honking and it disturbs other drivers and occupants.

Once while returning from Coorg, we encountered a Red beacon car with some gypsies in front and back. I let them overtake me at first (On a single lane road) and then kept my distance. They once stopped on the road and i overtook them, built up such speed that they never came close, but were always way behind me as i could hear their sirens and honking at some distance.

This was with sole reason to drive quietly as our daughter would always sleep in the rear seat.

[mmxylorider]

In the specific case of OP, since it was an unmarked expensive car, it could belong to a wealthy connected person. Police protection might have been given due to some threats received.

Not condoning the lane cutting that they did, if the guards see someone cutting in front of them - they will think worst case scenarios to see why it would have happened.

As pointed out before in the thread, it's best to let it go. I have and would've simply let such vehicles go as far ahead as possible. It's not worth my time to argue it out - especially since I am an unconnected 'aam aadmi'.

[gaurav_diavolo]

I had all the fight in the world in me and have done many things myself to teach lessons to wrong doers until my late grandpa had enough of my fighting for the right, once sat with me to sort me out and gave me this saying:

Fight with the PIG, it will drag you in his dirty mud, you might be the better fighter but the PIG will keep enjoying getting dirty!

and since then, i believe that I can't handle all the morons and only a few ones who affect my and my family's lives so directly that I can't stay shut anymore. For the loved ones I would die on my feet than living on knees.

Let one of these bodyguards be abusive to any of your family members, teach them the lesson of their lives. Its best to be associated with the political party of your choice, you can knock their doors in times of severe injustice.

[tud]

I was returning to Chennai from Pondy on the Tindivanam route. Near JIPMER, a Bolero with a beacon and a public address system was asking drivers to give way. It was speeding with the VIP seated in the Innova and again a Bolero in the tail to complete the convoy. I gave way for the VIP and then started following the tailing Bolero. Just as we neared the toll marking the end of Pondy, the convoy stopped by the side. The Boleros belonging to Pondy police transferred the VIP to TN police. That day the TN police had just 2 Ambassador cars. And the Ambys were not able to do any descent speed either. So I managed to overtake them and speed off. They did not try to warn or anything and this incident got over.

After about an hour while I was still on the GST road trying to negotiate the traffic, another VIP convoy joined us. While all the cars in the convoy overtook us, one of the Boleros got caught between two buses and by the time he made his way out, rest of the convoy had gone far ahead. Poor fellow couldn’t manage to join with his team till the end of the journey.

[Driving_Nomad]

Originally Posted by ashis89

Sharing my personal experience, whenever there is a convoy going I stick to the left and let pass. Then I accelerate and tail them. The convoy keeps clearing the traffic and I enjoy a traffic free road.

But I also make it a point to maintain a safe distance from them as they tend to brake suddenly. Just my 2 cents.

I have done this two times while driving from Mysore to Bangalore. Believe me, this's the best thing you could do whenever you happen to see a convoy passing, although at a safe braking distance. Also reduces your travel time atleast by half an hour

[SupratikDebnath]

1. Immediately move to the left lane.
2. Stop by the curb, if you can.
3. If unable to do either, motion frantically to the convoy that you are trying your best to give them way, but cannot due to traffic!! Not sure how you can convey this to the convoy, but give it a shot! He He He.

Best to avoid them. Let them go. And then get your peace of mind back by giving your piece of mind behind closed doors. :-D

[asr245]

Living in NCR, I would try to avoid an altercation on the road any day of the year - VIP or not. However I have succumbed to this feeling of getting a revenge a few times (like cutting off someone for cutting me off), but i feel stupid later on. It's relates to an idiom I read long time ago - "never argue with an idiot. They bring you down to their level and beat you with experience". Plus, living in India, one has to fight many battles. I am trying to preserve my energy for the bigger more important battles rather than small idiotic ones. Or at least, that's what I tell myself.

[GTO]

Reminds me of Normally Crazy's unfortunate incident with some rogue VIPs on the Expressway : Thread Link

In my 2 years in the States, I've never once experienced a VIP or politician muscling his way through traffic, the American citizen simply won't tolerate it and there'd be a huge outcry over such an incident.

Must also add : Except for when the Heads of State are visiting, I doubt the general American public is ever inconvenienced by blocked roads.

[MaserQ]

Originally Posted by Screwdriva

Again guys, this car was unmarked. Just a 50 lakh German car. No red light. No siren. No fancy license plates and no visible escort anywhere.

You need to move over only if the VIP car is accompanied by an escort car. A friend of mine was fined not once but twice for overtaking a minister's convoy.

In this case however, you are not required to move over for him nor are you answerable to the 'bodyguard'. Some people deal with this by letting them through. Good for them, less hassle. Others like you choose to deal with it differently. There is no right or wrong way to deal with such situations. Power to you.

The drivers of these so-called VIP cars are equally responsible. What riles me most is that they drive recklessly even if they are driving the car alone, minus the so-called backseat VIP. Like being a VIP or sarkari driver gives them the licence to thrill. Whats funny is that even an Amby with some obscure blue board that says 'Chairman of XYZ Board' thinks he can honk his way out of traffic!

[esteem_lover]

Couldn't agree with you more on the second part of not divulging anything to them, but first part sure was a risky thing to do. Being what they are, they are capable of anything at that point of time. At the same time, you must be commended for standing your ground. Not many would have had the guts to stand up against goons like these.

[torquecurve]

Whoa, experienced this the day before when returning at night. Two unmarked cars (or was it three), extremely dark tints. One was a stretched Merc S Class, two BMW 7 series one ahead and one behind it. This happened after the shastri nagar section towards Aga khan palace. I overtook the cars (doing a fair speed of about 50 kmph). I kind of slotted between the first Beemer and the S class. Just then I realised that some chap in the front Beemer was gesticulating wildly at me to slow down!. I did not feel any bumps or anything so was sure that I did not hit anything. I sped up, over took that beemer and let that be as it is. At the Ramwadi temporary flyover they cut me off and shouted. Now my glasses are not exactly transparent and at night it is as good as dark tints. So I just turned up the ICE and sped off

What I do remember is that they were MH23 registered cars.

[carfreak77]

You did a good thing by not divulging any information to them. I would have personally not cut them off because you never know what they may do. It is scary when one sees bodyguards of VIPs following their VIP car and casually holding AK47s sometimes even pointed at cars behind (intentionally or unintentionally). What if the guys in the German car had a gun? I have also been cut off many times by VIP cars, and no doubt I get angry, but I feel the most sensible thing to do is ignore them and carry on. Also, if any incident were to take place, you cannot count on the cops for support these days as you could in the olden days. For all you know they could be hand in glove with the rogues. Such is the state of affairs in our country. Did you note down the car number? If so you could post it here (after blanking a digit) so that other Mumbaikars are watchful of this bad driver particularly since there is no external indication of being a VIP car.