[apachelongbow]

I am totally frustrated by Indian driving conditions. I really don't care for pedistrians who shouldnt be on the roads, ambling along like buffaloes with their backside to the traffic direction, walking 2-3 abreast, chitchatting....
What other option do I have except use the same tactics as to move aside wandering bovines, honk away to glory until the cows move?
Other things deserving honking are the moronic two wheeled jokers who merrily cut across your bows expecting you to slow down, brake and do whatever it takes to save their useless backsides. Oh how I wish India had more sensible accident laws, then half these jokers may not even be alive to try their antics. Until then, I will honk away at everything that moves around, to ensure they stay out of my path

[go-pg]

Originally Posted by apachelongbow

I am totally frustrated by Indian driving conditions. I really dont care for pedistrians who shouldnt be on the roads, ambling along like buffaloes with their backside to the traffic direction, walking 2-3 abreast, chitchatting....
What other option do I have except use the same tactics as to move aside wandering bovines, honk away to glory until the cows move?
Other things deserving honking are the moronic two wheeled jokers who merrily cut across your bows expecting you to slow down, brake and do whatever it takes to save their useless backsides. Oh how I wish India had more sensible accident laws, then half these jokers may not even be alive to try their antics. Until then, I will honk away at everything that moves around, to ensure they stay out of my path

Amen to that and your post. I never used to honk but now i honk without even knowing i am doing it

[lazy]

Why do I honk?

(in order of frequency)
- As a protest - to let a lane cutting vehicle's driver.
- As a caution - to a jaywalking human or animal.
- As a request - to a slow moving vehicle to give way.

cheers
lazy

[joslicx]

Originally Posted by apachelongbow

I am totally frustrated by Indian driving conditions. I really dont care for pedistrians who shouldnt be on the roads, ambling along like buffaloes with their backside to the traffic direction, walking 2-3 abreast, chitchatting....
What other option do I have except use the same tactics as to move aside wandering bovines, honk away to glory until the cows move?

Since you are bringing bovines and horns in the equation - havent we all taught the "Bhains ke aage been bajana" in our schools? (Loosely translated - playing musical instrument in front of a buffalo - implying its useless to do that)

While I sympathize with your rather strongs sentiments with regards to people on road, I cannot but wonder what should they do? No motorists ever stop to give them way here in India. Govt does not put any zebra crossings or whatever crossings are there are not respected by motorists. I know of hundreds of places here in Bangalore where people need to cross roads and they do that at such a risk. There are no crossings, no red lights. I dont know how motorists can think roads are only for them.

Really, is it that big a sacrifice to slow down, and with a smile let the pedestrian cross the road?

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by joslicx

Since you are bringing bovines and horns in the equation - havent we all taught the "Bhains ke aage been bajana" in our schools? (Loosely translated - playing musical instrument in front of a buffalo - implying its useless to do that)

While I sympathize with your rather strongs sentiments with regards to people on road, I cannot but wonder what should they do? No motorists ever stop to give them way here in India. Govt does not put any zebra crossings or whatever crossings are there are not respected by motorists. I know of hundreds of places here in Bangalore where people need to cross roads and they do that at such a risk. There are no crossings, no red lights. I dont know how motorists can think roads are only for them.

Really, is it that big a sacrifice to slow down, and with a smile let the pedestrian cross the road?

I am not sure about Bangalore but here in Hyderabad the pedestrians are as bad as the motorists.

There are many places where there are zebra crossing but the people here have no idea as why they are made and what is the use. I have never seen people use it here. The pedestrians while crossing the road walk slowly as if they on the ramp of a fashion show, the attitude is like the driver will slow down why should I. The motorists feels the pedestrian will go faster when he watches me coming so why must I slow.

People at signals don't cross when it is RED. They cross when it is green. They feel that red and green signals are for them too but fail to understand when the signal is RED they can cross as there is no vehicular movement and vice-versa.

[gtonsing]

Originally Posted by joslicx

Really, is it that big a sacrifice to slow down, and with a smile let the pedestrian cross the road?

If you slow down, be prepared to listen to as many horns as there are cars behind you honking at you

That being said, I hardly used the horn earlier as I thought it was offensive to me and there by would be offensive to others. Some time ago, I passed by 2/3 people walking on the road and passed them without honking. One of the guys shouted at me, angry at the fact that I did not honk and give them a warning that I was approaching.
I now honk to: 1. warn pedestrians; 2. show anger at the vehicle which has just cut me off; 3. trying to overtake when I can see that driver infront of me is not looking at me from his/her OVRM.

[joslicx]

Originally Posted by a4anurag

I am not sure about Bangalore but here in Hyderabad the pedestrians are as bad as the motorists.

There are many places where there are zebra crossing but the people here have no idea as why they are made and what is the use. I have never seen people use it here. The pedestrians while crossing the road walk slowly as if they on the ramp of a fashion show, the attitude is like the driver will slow down why should I. The motorists feels the pedestrian will go faster when he watches me coming so why must I slow.

People at signals don't cross when it is RED. They cross when it is green. They feel that red and green signals are for them too but fail to understand when the signal is RED they can cross as there is no vehicular movement and vice-versa.

Well at signals the culprits are both motorists as well as pedestrians. Often cars/autos/bikes/buses take up all of the zebra crossing, actually its quite scary crossing the road on foot. And I think motorists should have the basic courtsey of slowing down when somebody is crossing the road. I am not talking about highways here but city roads. They are meant for everyone and not just for motorists.

Originally Posted by gtonsing

If you slow down, be prepared to listen to as many horns as there are cars behind you honking at you

My question is - does it matter? If somebody is mad enough to honk behind you because you are slowing down as a pedestrian is crossing the road - well I dont think it should matter at all. Let him honk at his pleasure. Its not like the road is not meant for the pedestrains now is it? And you cannot overrun them (unless you are Mr. so n so).

I still fail to understand what honking achieves in such situations. If everyone is honking like mad then who gets the priority of the road? Is it really civil to honk just because others are indulging in it. What do you do when you honk but the other person does not listen or ignores your horn??

[vineethvazhayil]

Originally Posted by joslicx

Really, is it that big a sacrifice to slow down, and with a smile let the pedestrian cross the road?

It depends on a lot of things - including
1. your mood
2. their mood
3. road type
4. weather conditions

etc.
So while I wouldn't mind slowing down to let a pedestrian cross if I'm at 10 - 20 km/h, the same pedestrian attempting to cross at any speed above 40km/h would need to wear the "I'm suicidal" badge on him/her.

[go-pg]

Originally Posted by joslicx

While I sympathize with your rather strongs sentiments with regards to people on road, I cannot but wonder what should they do? No motorists ever stop to give them way here in India. Govt does not put any zebra crossings or whatever crossings are there are not respected by motorists. I know of hundreds of places here in Bangalore where people need to cross roads and they do that at such a risk. There are no crossings, no red lights. I dont know how motorists can think roads are only for them.

Really, is it that big a sacrifice to slow down, and with a smile let the pedestrian cross the road?

I stopped doing it to save the life of the pedestrians!. I had this incident where i stopped for a pedestrian on a zebra crossing. They ended up smiling and crossed my vehicle but suddenly there was this car that came screaming towards them. It was a 1 lane road. The moron behind overtook me, used the wrong side of the road and almost hit them.

The blame lies on both. Even if there are zebra crossings or foot over bridge, people never use them. And motorists are always in a hurry. Infact everyone here seems in a hurry.

I have to constantly put up with the morons in my company who doesn't give way in elevators. Even before i get out of the elevator, these idiots come in, don't leave way and press the other floor buttons . You would think these so called IT people who are educated know the basic mannerism.

[hothatchaway]

I think it speaks volumes about the degree of civilization in a particular society by the manner in which horns are used; the term moron becomes inadequate to define a driver who insists on honking when the car in front has another car in front. Another fave bugbear are some of my apartment complex residents who insist on honking away for the security to open the gate upon their return late at night, oblivious to napping babies and the elderly, not to mention tired corporate slaves hoping to sleep their fatigue away.

I try and restrict my honking and are especially reserved for morons cutting into my lane in front of me w/o signalling

[apachelongbow]

Originally Posted by joslicx

While I sympathize with your rather strongs sentiments with regards to people on road, I cannot but wonder what should they do? No motorists ever stop to give them way here in India. Govt does not put any zebra crossings or whatever crossings are there are not respected by motorists. I know of hundreds of places here in Bangalore where people need to cross roads and they do that at such a risk. There are no crossings, no red lights. I dont know how motorists can think roads are only for them.

Really, is it that big a sacrifice to slow down, and with a smile let the pedestrian cross the road?

I think that roads per se are meant for vehicular moment, correct me if I am wrong!! Pedestrians, handcarts, slums, animals etc spilling on the road is pure wrong. Am I paying hard earned money in taxes to get these free gifts from the govt?
I mean if I accidentally run over a sleeping slum dweller, who for all love of god sleeps in middle of a median, I am to be blamed? What sort of respect do you expect me to give them mate?

And if you really try to smile and stop for a pedestrian (believe me I have done several times), 99% of the time I get either of two reactions: 1) smirk on the face of the pedestrian (he/she has won something), then deliberate slowing down and ambling across, feeling smug about the fact that they are stopping cars to cross the road. 2) The pedestrian and some 10 others form a beeline and start crossing, since anyways I have stopped, so they can take their own time, for the entire herd to cross.

[joslicx]

Originally Posted by apachelongbow

I think that roads per se are meant for vehicular moment, correct me if I am wrong!! Pedestrians, handcarts, slums, animals etc spilling on the road is pure wrong.

Roads are meant for public movement, and not just vehicles. What are people without any vehicles supposed to do? Fly over rooftops?

And its not like only people in cars are paying taxes. Thats very banal thinking. A lot of people who are on the road might also be having vehicles and they might as well be paying the same taxes. Also they might be using the public transport and that is why they are on the road. Buses wont pick you up from your home. You have to walk to catch public transport.

Just think about the chaos if eveybody used a car or some other personal transport in India. Would you really have any space on the roads for your own vehicle???

[rahul4640]

Gentlemen, I admit that I use my horns very liberally. But I become compelled to do so, by the number of pedestrians, bilkers, animals, etc.

But how do I refrain my next door neighbor, who is an aged man of about 60 years of age, to use his motorcycle horn at the middle of night, when everyone else is usually asleep, to signal his arrival to his wife and family? He does have a doorbell in his house but he will never bother to get down from his bike to use that. He will simply use his horn, sitting in his bike, till someone in his house does not open the door. And he is a man of a rude nature, with a son who is even a small local political leader. Polite requests made by me and few others of the adjacent buildings at past had not yielded any result. I am yet to find out any answer to this problem.

[Rastapopoulos]

Originally Posted by rahul4640

Gentlemen, I admit that I use my horns very liberally. But I become compelled to do so, by the number of pedestrians, bilkers, animals, etc.

But how do I refrain my next door neighbor, who is an aged man of about 60 years of age, to use his motorcycle horn at the middle of night, when everyone else is usually asleep, to signal his arrival to his wife and family? He does have a doorbell in his house but he will never bother to get down from his bike to use that. He will simply use his horn, sitting in his bike, till someone in his house does not open the door. And he is a man of a rude nature, with a son who is even a small local political leader. Polite requests made by me and few others of the adjacent buildings at past had not yielded any result. I am yet to find out any answer to this problem.

I started think on what can be a solution -

1. Making him stop by understanding the problem - Which seems out of question. Old habits die hard. Plus if he is someone who is going to find fun in making it a winning point he is going to give 2 more additional honks every night to prove he is a smart a$$

2. Making him stop by force - Maybe brute force, police complaints, tit for tat - showing him how ity feels by honking your horn when you come every night.


But all this is only going to make you lose your peace of mind. The more you think the more your wonderful life is going to be wasted thinking about a silly person who does not deserve so much of your time.


I guess learn to ignore- you are better off than many. Enjoy your life and accept the fact that those 2 mins of honking at night is going to disturb your sleep. Just mutter a curse if it helps

[1100D]

Originally Posted by rahul4640

Gentlemen, I admit that I use my horns very liberally. But I become compelled to do so, by the number of pedestrians, bilkers, animals, etc.

But how do I refrain my next door neighbor, who is an aged man of about 60 years of age, to use his motorcycle horn at the middle of night, when everyone else is usually asleep, to signal his arrival to his wife and family? He does have a doorbell in his house but he will never bother to get down from his bike to use that. He will simply use his horn, sitting in his bike, till someone in his house does not open the door. And he is a man of a rude nature, with a son who is even a small local political leader. Polite requests made by me and few others of the adjacent buildings at past had not yielded any result. I am yet to find out any answer to this problem.

Join hands with those "few others from adjacent buildings" and then detonate one "burimar" (or something like that) stuff in the middle of the night on some of the nights, so that they get a taste of their own medicine. But dont do it regularly or from the same house.

Or, since you have a TATA car, pretend that your horn got activated in the middle of the night and you are trying your best to disconnect the battery. Then apologise for Tata quality if he comes to you asking. If he asks anything further, tell him about how his daily honking also disturbs you.

If he doesn't come asking, just go to his house, ring the door bell, wake him up and then say "sorry my Horn got activated, I hope It did not disturb you much"