None of us in the US of A would be able to drive in India without special instruction. It requires the usual combination of brake, accelerator and steering wheel. However, in India, the horn is very, very important. Also the headlights, I think, but I will explain about that later.
To begin, if there are lines on the roadway (and "if" is a very important word here), they are merely suggestions, and appear to be completely ignored for the most part.
They drive on the left, so that is a bit harrowing to begin with for the right-side-of-the-road drivers that we are.
There are pedestrians, bicycles, motorscooters, and motorcycles everywhere. Also motor-rickshaws. This is the case in the city as well as out on country roads. Everyone drives the speed that pleases them, and merely passes other vehicles when necessary. to maintain that speed. Now here is the part where the horn is so important. As the vehicle pulls out to pass, the driver honks their horn - beep-beep! and then continues to beep as they pass. beep! beep! beep! beep! It is not a blaring horn like we have, but more of a roadrunner beep. If here is oncoming traffic, it is a good idea to keep an eye on the oncoming vehicle,and to beep the horn even more. If the vehicles get too close to each other, then everyone swerves around, sometimes onto the side of the road, and then continue o their way.
So a two-lane road really has three lanes. thhe left lane, the right lane, and then the one that runs down the middle that is continuously being used for passing.
It is harrowing for we American passengers. We are frequently faced with busses and trucks barrelling down the road at us. But somehow, for the most part, everyone ggets around without crashing into each other.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment