[Surprise]

Thanks guys for the advices.

Generally I enjoy the drive at controllable speeds rather than high speeds which require higher level of concentration and I very well know the difference in time between these two. The first incident has shaken me a lot and Iam surprised the outcome has come exactly the opposite of what I should have done (slow down)

On the second incident, when I felt the car was in bit of air at those higher speeds, I slightly applied the brakes to bring it back to control. This is purely by repeated readings at our forum not to stand on the brake and lock the wheels. Right after this second incident, I stopped in a tea shop for a 15 mins break.

VivekinY2K- Any idea how to manage in such situation?

[watashi75]

Overtaking from left is a strict no no in highway driving. It is better to slow down and wait then overtake from left.

Overtaking at corners is another strict no no. For one, many people don't stick to their lanes at turns and another, somebody else might be doing the same overtaking maneuver from the other side. For a right turn it might be ok if you have good visibility but a left turn is like inviting trouble.

And I thought the right way to bring an airborne car under control is to accelerate and not brake. But experts can clarify.

[Bubby]

Hey Surprise, drive carefully man.
I think we all have this nag of taking risks even when we know that its going to be tight

Originally Posted by Ravveendrra

The last leg or the home stretch is dangerous as we get impatient to get home + having got used to all those long empty stretches, we get irritated with the heavy slow moving traffic. Best to take a break somewhere there and tell yourself that driving is going to be slow for this last stretch.

Cheers and happy driving,

Very righly said Mr Ravvendrra.
It happens with me as well and I think this happens with everybody and specially when you drive between the same highway ( same destinations ) often. You tend to race with yourself, you tend to better your previously set timings between the two destinations.
End of journey is like the last few laps of the race and you want to give it your all and that is asking for trouble, as generally the last few kms are when you are approaching your house are conjested and you tend look for risky moves

[hrag]

Where exactly did all this happen? The bridge I can hazard a guess - the one over the railway line going to Arakkonam?

[HappyWheels]

Originally Posted by Surprise

...Right after this second incident, I stopped in a tea shop for a 15 mins break...

Right thing to do when once goes thru a tight situation. Help a long way in getting things in order!

[condor]

@Ravveenndrra, well put. Honestly, I had not thought about my honking not being audible enough to the truck driver. - And that if he is not responding to my honking, he is not doing it deliberately.
Thanks !

watashi75 : Overtaking at corners is another strict no no.

Basically : Never overtake on the same side of the turning : the gap will always reduce on that side.

Never overtake on the outside of the turning : you have a big blind spot coming up.

While one can argue an exception that :
on a Keep Left road system (like in India), it is ok to overtake from the right during a right turn, I feel even this is dangerous.

Best option is to overtake on a straight, when the coast is clear in both directions.

[Surprise]

Originally Posted by watashi75

And I thought the right way to bring an airborne car under control is to accelerate and not brake. But experts can clarify.

I do not know which is the right way to handle such situation, but honestly that an instant reaction from my side with a conscious move of not to brake hard.

As you said, let's leave that topic to experts for clarification

Originally Posted by hrag

Where exactly did all this happen? The bridge I can hazard a guess - the one over the railway line going to Arakkonam?

The first over bridge as you join the NH-4 from the old madras road (towards Chennai)

[Jai3033]

Originally Posted by Surprise

As I settled down, continued with higher speeds in NH-4. Entered a bridge with no traffic ahead in the speeds of 120 kmph, as I was about to exit it, I hit a slight uneven road surface and felt as if the car was in air, though not sure. Could hear the passengers shout as their head got hit against the roof of the car, I slightly applied brakes to get the car into the control.

What car were you driving and was the bridge you entered the Kanchipuram rail over bridge? Since I was traveling on the same road a couple of days back I remember seeing a grey i10 air borne for a second on that bridge at about 4pm.

[rm_arjuna]

hi surprise , thank god nothing happened and i understand it is very frustrating behind a slow moving truck . Something similar happened to me this sat , we were also on our way to temple , passing thru sort of ghat roads , traffic was slow moving and we were behind a truck for almost 15-20 mins and my driver in a jiffy just zipped to over take only to see a swift right in front of us in opp direction , both of us braked hard and rejoined the road . Just that one sec was scary enough to put us in defensive and we rode the entire trip at sober 70-80 kmph.

[Surprise]

And I thought the right way to bring an airborne car under control is to accelerate and not brake. But experts can clarify.

Can someone throw more light onto this

Originally Posted by Jai3033

What car were you driving and was the bridge you entered the Kanchipuram rail over bridge? Since I was traveling on the same road a couple of days back I remember seeing a grey i10 air borne for a second on that bridge at about 4pm.

I drove a non-abs version of Swift Vxi. Not sure whether the bridge which I mentioned earlier was the Kanchipuram rail over bridge

[hrag]

Originally Posted by Jai3033

What car were you driving and was the bridge you entered the Kanchipuram rail over bridge? Since I was traveling on the same road a couple of days back I remember seeing a grey i10 air borne for a second on that bridge at about 4pm.

I'm pretty sure this was the bridge. There are 2 hotspots on this bridge - as you climb and reach the level surface on top. In either direction.

If you restrict your speed to 100 kph as you climb this bridge, you will not be airborne.

[Nutty Nair]

Originally Posted by Ravveendrra

@ surprise,

Glad to hear that it was limited to a scare (or two) without any damage. In addition to all the sage advice by other friends here, remember -

1. "Horns blaring" dont really work with trucks. If you have ever sat in a truck cabin you would know - they just cant hear it!

2. The driver cant see you when you are on the left of the truck you are overtaking.

3. That "someone lifted the car" is your left tyre(s) getting back onto the tarmac. When the shoulder is much lower than the road, the whole trajectory of the car changes on the tyre(s) getting back onto the tarmac.

4. Majority of the bridges have a bump at either end from difference in height of bridge and road, these lift and throw the car up. If you see a bridge - it is best to slow down.

5. The last leg or the home stretch is dangerous as we get impatient to get home + having got used to all those long empty stretches, we get irritated with the heavy slow moving traffic. Best to take a break somewhere there and tell yourself that driving is going to be slow for this last stretch.

Cheers and happy driving,

Sound advice, all of the above.
@Surprise - Glad to know that you & family are safe. Drive safely!

Ranjith

[Surprise]

hrag, How did you figured out the two hot spots yourself? Any issues you faced there?

Originally Posted by hrag

If you restrict your speed to 100 kph as you climb this bridge, you will not be airborne.

Is this airborne problem specific to this bridge or common to all. If this is specific to this bridge, will not this turn as a death trap for speed lovers who were new to this bridge

[hrag]

Originally Posted by Surprise

hrag, How did you figured out the two hot spots yourself? Any issues you faced there?

Sir, NH4 is my backyard, I know every inch of that highway . I've been airborne there once myself when the bridge was opened.

Originally Posted by Surprise

Is this airborne problem specific to this bridge or common to all. If this is specific to this bridge, will not this turn as a death trap for speed lovers who were new to this bridge

It is very specific to this bridge. Although there's a trick to it - keep left, drop to 100 and you will not feel a thing.

This bridge is not a death trap by any standard - there are 2 others beyond this one enroute to Bangalore that are - Pachakuppam & Vaniyambadi.

[Surprise]

Experts, need your input on how to bring back the airborne car back to ground. No, Iam not going to repeat what I have done, just wanted to educate myself on this. As Wat, as pointed out that we need to accelerate and not to brake at those situations

Originally Posted by hrag

Sir, NH4 is my backyard, I know every inch of that highway . I've been airborne there once myself when the bridge was opened.



It is very specific to this bridge. Although there's a trick to it - keep left, drop to 100 and you will not feel a thing.

This bridge is not a death trap by any standard - there are 2 others beyond this one enroute to Bangalore that are - Pachakuppam & Vaniyambadi.

Thanks for the alert, hrag.