[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by DRIVE_ADDICT

"People like us??" i don't think a person belonging to an Automotive forum like team-bhp will favour 'Bribe' against violating traffic rule.
If the so called educated person(s) is not following traffic rules then its a shame on them.

Wake up and smell the coffee, Team-BHP is a fantastic place to share and learn to care for your fellow motorists, but are you seriously suggesting that T-BHP ensures (rather rules) your conduct on the road to fellow motorists ? This is a forum to learn, share and learn to care if you can, but there is no guarantee that a T-BHPian is beyond these mundane traffic mouthing off. Everyone has their day off.

Chennai and other parts of India needs more clean motorists like you, waiting to see that day. At the same time, I agree that Chennai has become one whole conundrum of issues, OTOH, I also feel that the sudden exponential growth in the car owning population here are also responsible for this mayhem (they always feel that what they do only is right), apart from the stupid locals here.

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

I have also always wondered how bikers (esp women on Scooties) have the courage to ride on the fast lane on the OMR (especially the stretch from Madhya Kailash) with fast cars zooming past them. When on a bike, I have always stuck to the left-most lane on this road - purely out of fear for my life.

Why the difference between your bike and your car, if you are driving safe all the time, it does not matter whether you are in your car or in your SUV. From the rules I know, if you are driving/riding faster than the slow car/bike, you overtake and stay on his right (centre or left), no matter what you drive. Add to that, to my understanding, there is no lane marking for bikes or cars anywhere in Chennai except in Mount Road. Is this not a simple example of whoever is bigger is mightier ? Why blame the poor Volvo drivers or the truck drivers ?

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Exactly not.

It certainly doesn't help, and we are all but human and get frustrated and angry, but lack of infrastructure does not make us bad: we make us bad.

There is no option to give thanks for the 2nd time, here it is.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Cheers. I have to keep reminding myself and finding ways to handle what happens without getting mad. Like the biker who insisted on overtaking me on the left, on he OMR, as I was indicating left to turn towards Thiruvanmiyur, and trying not to leave space on the left for anyone to even try it. I held my hand on the horn. My wife says, "he won't learn, why bother?" Because there is an infinitesimal chance that he might realize he did something dangerously wrong, and that realization might in increase his life expectancy. But, I'm pretty sure he didn't.

Originally Posted by VW2010

how can you be frustrated with traffic. Its fun when you know you cant do anything but talk to your family and yap about things you never do at home where there are too many distractions from tv to computer.

I say traffic are good place for conversation with family inside car.

i love chennai. Just another perspective.

I used to love that old red signals said "Relax." I agree entirely. Unless one has a plane or a train to catch, slow traffic is something to be lived with. It's the fast, crazy, lawless traffic that brings out all those "human" aspects in me.

[suhaas307]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Like the biker who insisted on overtaking me on the left, on he OMR, as I was indicating left to turn towards Thiruvanmiyur, and trying not to leave space on the left for anyone to even try it. I held my hand on the horn. My wife says, "he won't learn, why bother?" Because there is an infinitesimal chance that he might realize he did something dangerously wrong, and that realization might in increase his life expectancy. But, I'm pretty sure he didn't.

Exactly.

It's that infinitesimal chance of realization that makes me want to do something about it. At least, at that moment. I try and reason with myself a few seconds later. I'm just hoping that that moment 'when I want to do something about it' shouldn't get me into trouble.

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

I used to love that old red signals said "Relax." I agree entirely. Unless one has a plane or a train to catch, slow traffic is something to be lived with. It's the fast, crazy, lawless traffic that brings out all those "human" aspects in me.

They must seriously consider reintroducing these traffic-lights. I'd be happy to run into them.

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by VW2010

how can you be frustrated with traffic. Its fun when you know you cant do anything but talk to your family and yap about things you never do at home where there are too many distractions from tv to computer.

I say traffic are good place for conversation with family inside car.

That is a totally new and very sedate view to dealing with traffic especially when we are in our cocoons (or cars). Why do we get SO agitated about a motor cycle treading through a needle's gap or a share auto picking up a passenger (who might want to get to her/his place of work just as fast as you want to) ? Or an auto rickshaw guy who has the same enthu as you and wants to flaunt his new posession with a free flow (unless you have wound down your windows to let some fresh air to cure that stale air) ?

[supremeBaleno]

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Why the difference between your bike and your car, if you are driving safe all the time, it does not matter whether you are in your car or in your SUV. From the rules I know, if you are driving/riding faster than the slow car/bike, you overtake and stay on his right (centre or left), no matter what you drive.

The difference between a bike and car is in the safety each provides. If a bus nudges my car, the brunt would be most probably borne by the car, but if it happens when I am on my bike, it could be serious. Your rules knowledge is OK, but when you responded to my post you ignored the fact that I was mentioning about bikes puttering slowly in the fast lane, which apart from inconveniencing faster motorists, is a danger for the bikers themselves. Basically I was mentioning about bikers who are not doing what is underlined in your post above.

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Why do we get SO agitated about a motor cycle treading through a needle's gap or a share auto picking up a passenger (who might want to get to her/his place of work just as fast as you want to) ? Or an auto rickshaw guy who has the same enthu as you and wants to flaunt his new posession with a free flow (unless you have wound down your windows to let some fresh air to cure that stale air) ?

Simply because all the instances you mentioned are violations. Why should a biker get perpendicular to the traffic between 2 cars blocking traffic ? Leave alone the part about his scratching the cars. No issues about share-autos picking up passengers at the bays designated for them, but when they stop abruptly in traffic wherever they please, it can cause accidents. Thats why. And the free-flow with autos which incidentally is a Chennai-only thing, is not only illegal, but also causes noise pollution. I don't see a need to condone these just because they happen in my city.

[GreaseMonk]

The lack of infrastructure keeps us in check. I've seen how we behave when on an excellent road. Its the exact same thing, only faster.

[DRIVE_ADDICT]

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Chennai and other parts of India needs more clean motorists like you, waiting to see that day.

Thanks!.

The topic got more interested than what i thought earlier. SupremeBaleno mentioned about women in Scooty's on the right most lane in OMR, how fast a scooty can go? 60? Then do you think this vehicle to stay in the fastest lane where cars are zooming past at 100?. If so Fine!.

Traffic is ofcourse a place to enjoy when people around are shouting to go pass the red signal when the count down timer was at 5, blowing horn to move away when all sides are blocked and we can enjoy inside the cocoon.

If everybody enjoys the traffic (and violations) like this, things will be so peace and roads will be so peaceful. Waiting for the day.

[VW2010]

Why do we get SO agitated about a motor cycle treading through a needle's gap or a share auto picking up a passenger (who might want to get to her/his place of work just as fast as you want to) ?

Agitation never helped. Cussing does help when your windows are up and no one can hear you and you have satisfied your ego to cuss .

You got to learn to treat a car as a car and worry about what is under your control. Anything outside your control you have no claim to be upset about.

I have slowly learnt the art to drive within city speed limits meaning you can never be in your 5th gear and just move with the traffic.

Stay in the right most lane and hope for no nonsence 1 hour slow traffic with no cutting auto wallas and motor bikes.

I try to even close the gap between the median and my car to not allow bikes to squeeze in. Still i cannot control whats happening on the left side.

I sometimes cross the perungalathur gate to get inside. even those days i wait for the initial traffic to cross over and then follow the last car to get into. i may have wasted 10 minutes, but gained 10 mintues of peace.

Manytimes play some stand up comedy which takes your mind of the traffic and lastly but not the least of the method is to listen to illaya. Solves the problem.

how fast a scooty can go? 60? Then do you think this vehicle to stay in the fastest lane where cars are zooming past at 100?. If so Fine!.

There is no lane called fastest lane or fast lane. The speed limit is , say ,45 and either way scooty or any car going over 45 is probably over speeding. It does not matter if you overspeed by 15 kms or 45 kms. You dont get a special lane

[headers]

Originally Posted by VW2010

There is no lane called fastest lane or fast lane. The speed limit is , say ,45 and either way scooty or any car going over 45 is probably over speeding. It does not matter if you overspeed by 15 kms or 45 kms. You dont get a special lane

This lane menace started in Chennai because the great Chennai motorists in majority stated they want the first lane..

This menace started in mount road between thousand lights and Tarapore towers some time back and had leaked slowly to other parts..

The idiots who accepted the situation are to blame..not the motorists..IMO

[DRIVE_ADDICT]

Originally Posted by VW2010

There is no lane called fastest lane or fast lane. The speed limit is , say ,45 and either way scooty or any car going over 45 is probably over speeding. It does not matter if you overspeed by 15 kms or 45 kms. You dont get a special lane

Your point will be valid provided every motorists follows the speed limit. I think the speed limit in OMR is 65 km/h. But the most points discussed is all about violations and how to cope up with so many violations around.

[headers]

Originally Posted by DRIVE_ADDICT

But the most points discussed is all about violations and how to cope up with so many violations around.

I think the best is to enjoy the mess around and NOT loose your cool

This is the best way to cope up with the traffic and not cause any harm to yourself or others.

Traffic violations / Violators / VIPs and the escorts create a ruckus where ever they are!

Complaining about the city time and again is not encouraging to read - Its like any other city with its pitfalls!

As a matter of fact. I find cars with LTD stickers driven or parked incorrectly - Should I vent out on the forum?

[DRIVE_ADDICT]

Originally Posted by headers

Complaining about the city time and again is not encouraging to read - Its like any other city with its pitfalls!

Dont know why its always end up on 'city'. I think its better to mute myself rather than penning down the views/experience.

[sjcherian]

Originally Posted by headers

I think the best is to enjoy the mess around and NOT loose your cool

This is the best way to cope up with the traffic and not cause any harm to yourself or others.

Traffic violations / Violators / VIPs and the escorts create a ruckus where ever they are!

Complaining about the city time and again is not encouraging to read - Its like any other city with its pitfalls!

As a matter of fact. I find cars with LTD stickers driven or parked incorrectly - Should I vent out on the forum?

Sir - You are 100% correct, these are the facts and one has to "adjust" to all of this and not take up yet more blood pressure from all of it. However it is definitely difficult to stay quiet when you are stopped at a signal and morons come from all sides and hit your vehicle (the one you take great care to maintain. Meditation / yoga anyone ?

[srishiva]

Originally Posted by headers

Traffic violations / Violators / VIPs and the escorts create a ruckus where ever they are!

Complaining about the city time and again is not encouraging to read - Its like any other city with its pitfalls!

Thank god you are not from Bengaluru

[ninjatalli]

Just went through the last 3-4 pages - interesting to see rants with mostly negative views about the traffic & driving sense in Chennai. It is interesting to me considering that I find the traffic more controlled & subdued than most other metros. Having said that I just completed a 1600km trip across 4 states yesterday, and the only bump/scratch/dent I got was in Chennai last night. Thankfully, nothing is visible on the car.

Originally Posted by DRIVE_ADDICT

Dont know why its always end up on 'city'. I think its better to mute myself rather than penning down the views/experience.

On the contrary, it's very much necessary to go against the crowd, whenever required. We can't always strive to please the majority always, can we!