Driving in India is unlike anything I have ever witnessed in the States or any other country. At any given moment there are millions of cars, trucks, bicycles, motorcycles, rickshaws, push-carts, dogs, cows, pigs, and pedestrians on the road.
After driving around daily, NOTHING comes as a surprise to us. We have seen rickshaws packed with 10-12 people, including 5 or 6 more on the roof; we have witnessed four people riding on one motorcycle, including a fifth being held in a mother’s arms; we have not witnessed a fatal accident yet, but often read about them in the news. For being such erratic drivers, they are also very alert. Patience is not a characteristic found on the road, but road rage is also not present either, drivers pull out in traffic, turn into on-coming traffic, blow through stop signs, and ignore red lights, which just may prove, despite being extremely obnoxious, the horn method is very effective. One thing we have observed is with millions of vehicles on the road, traffic hardly ever jams up for long. It would help if Baltimore drivers could learn a few of these driving habits on the road and apply them back home! If you can drive in India and survive, you can drive anywhere! 
Similar to the hustle and bustle of New York City, India traffic never stops, not even for traffic lights. The two and only two rules of the road: 1. Don’t hit anyone and 2. Don’t get hit. Turning signals are seldom used unless by accident; all lanes including the shoulder and the median are used for passing, that is, if the drivers use the lanes at all; you do not yield for pedestrians, they yield to you, except when they don’t; and if your horn is out of order you are not considered to be driving. Honking the horn must be taught as early as a year into life because no one, I mean NO ONE, bats an eye at honking or being honked at. The noises and jingles of the horns emitted throughout the city from the various types of transportation never cease.
After driving around daily, NOTHING comes as a surprise to us. We have seen rickshaws packed with 10-12 people, including 5 or 6 more on the roof; we have witnessed four people riding on one motorcycle, including a fifth being held in a mother’s arms; we have not witnessed a fatal accident yet, but often read about them in the news. For being such erratic drivers, they are also very alert. Patience is not a characteristic found on the road, but road rage is also not present either, drivers pull out in traffic, turn into on-coming traffic, blow through stop signs, and ignore red lights, which just may prove, despite being extremely obnoxious, the horn method is very effective. One thing we have observed is with millions of vehicles on the road, traffic hardly ever jams up for long. It would help if Baltimore drivers could learn a few of these driving habits on the road and apply them back home! If you can drive in India and survive, you can drive anywhere! 
Tommy and I recently explored the Delhi metro system and much to our amazement it is clean, cheap, air conditioned, smooth, and runs on time. For less than $1 you can spend the day traveling around Delhi.
The road less taken: This came as a nice surprise during our "short-cut" out to Mewat. We came across a 3 1/2 ft deep, 20 ft long "puddle" that our SUV struggled to get through. It is a good thing we made it because the # 3 rule they told us at the health clinic before coming to India was "Do not play in standing water!"
Our First rickshaw ride. This poor man had to peddle us about a 1/2 mile in 100 degree heat for 40rupees, which is equal to less than $1
India traffic jam. Notice there are people on both sides of the median. This is a very common sight and has often kept us wondering, "where could they possibly be going and what are they doing standing on the inside of the highway?"
Shots of the various types of vehicles and traffic that can be found throughout India:
Great post and pictures. The two of you are great bloggers. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMary G