I recently spoke with the Inspector of Traffic Police for Chennai and asked him what advice he would give foreigners who want to drive in India.
He said, “Don’t do it.”
Still, there will be some of us sick souls who insist on our freedom and are willing to put our lives and sanity at risk.
But before you get into the wrong side of the car, realize you are in the passenger’s seat, get out, and get behind the driving wheel, you must acknowledge these three things:
- Driving in India will definitely increase the frequency of culture attacks you will experience
- Driving in India will increase the likelihood that you will kill someone or something (intentionally or unintentionally)
- You must completely forget everything you know about driving.
Driving in India is a lesson in anarchy. But if anarchy is like Indian roads, then it is not so bad once you get used to it.
Lucky for you, I found a great *old Indian driving manual at the RTO. I’ve posted some excerpts you might find helpful.
General Driving Guidelines:
When driving, you should assume at all times that everyone around you is suffering from a severe mental disease that makes them either suicidal or homicidal. For example, when you are driving down a road in very fast traffic and notice a car waiting to merge, it is best to assume this deranged driver will plan on pulling out in front of you, slowing to a stop, and then making an illegal U-turn. Once this assumption becomes common for you, you will find driving much more pleasurable. As a driver, your only obligation is to concern yourself with what is ahead of you. Do not refer to the side nor rearview mirrors. Keep moving forward at all costs, and do not stop for any reason whatsoever.
Regarding Right of Way:
In every conceivable traffic situation, you always have the right of way. If you decide to ever relinquish this God-given right, these are the acceptable parties you can give it to:
-Vehicles larger than you
-City buses and water tankers whose drivers enjoy immunity in all situations
-Cows
If there is a conflict on who has the right of way, the party with the least to lose will be granted the right of way (i.e. those with no concern for human life, those who are only hired drivers, those who already have scratches on their car, those who are very late for something very important).
Regarding Intersections:
At some intersections, there will be a traffic signal. At times, there will also be electricity for the traffic signal. You should always obey a working traffic signal unless: -You are in a hurry -You choose not to -The person in front of you chooses not to If you happen to find yourself at a red traffic signal, proper etiquette is to stop, and then slowly inch forward into the intersection. At some point, you will realize you have gone too far into the intersection, and you may as well continue through and be on your way. Follow the diagram below.
If you are stopped at an intersection and cannot see the traffic signal, do not panic. You will know when it is your turn to go because there will be an old woman or child who will start slowly walking in front of you at the precise time the light changes. Once the signal changes to green, do not go immediately, or you will hit the crossing traffic that has not yet stopped. If there is no traffic signal, no electricity, or no traffic cop, kindly refer to the Right of Way rules.
Regarding Traffic Police:
Traffic police are there to enforce these unwritten rules. They are also there to enforce some written rules as per convenience of the situation and the suggestion of their superiors. Unwritten rules apply every day, but you will not know which written rules apply on which days. If a traffic policeman signals for you to pull over, you have two options: 1.) Pull over 2.) Continue driving If you choose to pull over, speak politely to the traffic policeman. If you are driving late at night, he may ask you to breath into his state-of-the-art breathalyzer (aka his nose). He will use this equipment to measure your blood alcohol content down to the age of whisky you had. Should the policeman struggle to give you a complicated reason for pulling you over and should you appear to be in a hurry, there is a chance that the policeman might suggest a simple solution to the problem you have encountered, which is usually in multiples of Rs. 100. If you are uncomfortable with his solution, then ask for a printed ticket for whatever fine you have committed. Most traffic policemen are genuinely nice people operating in a very grey system.
Regarding specific vehicles to avoid:
Some drivers qualify for an Aggressively Hostile Operator License. They usually will be driving larger vehicles like the Tata Sumo or the Mahindra Scorpio, and often will have flags of a local political party on their hood. These drivers have learned special techniques, such as how to install shockingly loud horns, how to hold down the horn at all times, how to drive ridiculously fast, and how to cut others off in traffic. They also employ a technique known as “dazzling” the lights, which entails flashing the high beam lights on and off again. Dazzling can be used in the night or day. It can be used to scare a car from behind that the driver is about to pass or to scare oncoming traffic encountered while driving in the wrong lane. These drivers will constantly use the high beams at night. If it helps them see the road better, who cares if it blinds all oncoming traffic? Kindly allow this classification of driver to pass you as quickly as possible, and resist the urge to “teach them a lesson”.
Regarding the use of the horn:
The horn is to be used in the following situations: -When you want to pass someone -When you are passing someone -When you feel that someone is being a jerk -When you wish someone would go faster -When you are pretty sure that someone is going to pull out in front of you -When they do pull out in front of you -When someone is not proceeding through a red light properly (see above) -A few seconds before a light turns green in order to alert the driver 6 cars ahead of you that he might want to think about getting ready -When you plan on going through a red traffic signal -When you are going the wrong way on a one way road -When someone else is going the wrong way on a one way road -When you have not used your horn in a few minutes All other uses should be avoided.
Regarding making a left turn (merging into traffic):
If you are making a left turn into traffic, the appropriate way to merge is to keep your head forward at all times and do not acknowledge any near-death experiences about to happen.
Regarding making a right turn (turning across traffic):
You may employ a similar technique as the one used at intersections. Slowly creep forward into oncoming traffic until someone feels you have no longer any respect for your own life and gives you the right of way. The following lanes are considered appropriate to turn from if you need to make a right turn. Kindly do not use any other lane other than approved lanes.
Regarding pedestrians:
Please respect the lanes of travel that are going in the opposite direction as traffic reserved for pedestrians as shown below.
Regarding kindness:
It is best to leave kindness for other areas of life. When you are merging with traffic and someone else seems to be trying to get in front of you, simply refrain from any eye contact and keep as close as you can to the car in front of you. If you don’t, there will be fifty other cars waiting to follow them and you will have upset the eco-balance of the road. It is considered mostly acceptable to stop for children and old aunties who are crossing the road, provided they use their hand to tell you to stop.
#GreyIsWhite, #ChaosBeatsLogic
*I realize that satire doesn’t always translate well. There is no old manual, so please don’t ask me for the rest of it.
So funny because so close to the truth!
LOL – I have driven in Texas, Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and South Carolina;across vast swatches of England and Wales; for two years in Barbados, in St. Lucia; all across France, Germany, and Sweden; for 14 years in The Gambia, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Djibouti; and in Kabul, but I don’t think I have the nerve to drive here. But I do love reading about it! Thanks.
Wow, that’s quite the driving resume!
Really enjoyed this one and all of it so true from what I have seen riding shotgun.
Regarding the use of horn:
You may honk when you are sad,
Honk when you are mad
You may Honk when angry,
Honk when hungry
You may honk when you are happy,
Honk when you feel crappy
If you are late to work,
Or just being a jerk
There is no bad time,
For noise so sublime
Love it!
Lovely.
“All other uses should be avoided.” (regarding the use of horn) Haha! What other uses?
Guess there are people who use driver-seat rather than rear-seats 😛
LOL, so true.
Pretty accurate 🙂
This is hilarious. Absolutely hilarious and SO TRUE.
The reason behind the fact that Indian Drivers cause problems for others on the road is lack of Proper Training at the start when one learns to drive. Most of the Indian Drivers get their license without taking driving classes and without any test, just by using the method of Rs 100. A trained driver is the key element for road safety, who not only ensures his/her own safety but that of others too. Sandhu Driving School, one of the prominent Driving Schools in Chandigarh offers cost effective and expert training solutions since past 8 years.
I was in Shillong sitting in a line of traffic because someone had pulled their car from a driveway partly into the road and was blocking it. The traffic policeman climbed down from his perch above the traffic circle, angrily walked over to that car, reached in through the window, grabbed the driver by the hair and shook him. The driver quickly pulled his car out of the lane and traffic started moving again. I wanted to offer that traffic policeman the job of Chief of Traffic police here in Washington D.C! We need someone like him to get our traffic moving! 🙂
An Indian friend remarked “The problem with the U.S. is that here you can’t outrun the police!”
Hahaha
actually nowadays, police doesn’t stop you on spot. They note down your number and then you are slammed an arbitrary nominal fine which has to be payed through a bank. So car numbers are registered along with bank details. Now if your car is rented or borrowed, then you and your tenant figure out the rest of the monetary problems invoved by means which may or maynot be peaceful.
I picked up an Indian friend from the airport in Washington D.C. and got on the highway. He said, “My … traffic is so orderly here!” I told him that that was the first time I ever heard anyone characterize D.C. traffic as orderly. 🙂
Great job, this is extremely accurate. 2 remarks:
NEVER let any pedestrian cross the road! Not even old women or children! As other vehicles won’t stop, but rather overtake you blindly, at full speed, from any side of your car, your kind gesture will probably condemn the pedestrian to a violent death. Seriously, I several times almost got people hit before deciding to give up my good european manners and ignore pedestrians looking for an early reincarnation.
Also, I have been involved in all kind of accidents (fortunately without casualties) but never when I was driving. So, if you decide not to drive yourself, remember that your driver will be Indian, which means potentially suicidal as every other drivers around…
Nice ones. I agree. If you let someone cross the road, you are disrupting the traffic flow. They will get across on their own.
I have another post coming about getting in accidents that will hopefully be helpful, but rule #1 is to let someone else handle it!
LOL. By the way… no one drives on the left or right hand side of the road. The only acceptable side is the middle.
Haha!! That’s a good one. True for walking as well.
this is the best thing i read in a while
thanks 😀
Pure gold :D. Also the horn is *the* single most important part of any vehicle 🙂 I did not yet had the chance to buy a vehicle in India, but I figure that when you are in the saloon, you just check if the horn is working. If so, and you like the sound, the vehicle is as good as bought :).
Haha, even if you don’t like the sound, you can get a custom one added on.
Have you read this one yet?
http://learningindia.in/indian-horn-language/
You’re right :).
I’ve read the horn guide just now, it is also great, and spot on ;), thank you.
I fell off the floor upon reading this. Chaos over Logic you say – I say Laughter over Chaos over Logic anytime. Kudos on your wit, made my day. :))))
Glad you liked it!
And don’t forget how no helmets are necessary (as a rule yes), but for all other reasons, Noooo! We like our wind blown looks too much.
Except for the guys who wear the scarves on their heads to protect their manes!
Manes! Don’t you love that term? Anagram for ‘Names’? Women also wear those to escape the evil looks of the ‘suicidal’ riders n drivers.
@Neil Miller…
You may try and do a piece on how ‘Parking’ works in India. I can provide inputs if you need because I face the problem everyday. (pix will be included).
Yes, that would be a great one!
I am dead after reading this and the reason to be dead is excessive dose of laughter 😀 :D..!! And this is so bloody true..!!
Indians drive like savages with no respect for anyone except their own self interest. They dont even bother to wait behind a slow moving vehicle but go from the side. They have no concern at all for anyones life other than ones own. Even animals are better than Indians. They dont have much bigger roads but every indian wants to own an SUV and show off their ignorance and stupidity. It is extremely dangerous to walk on the roads and drive in India as there are no rules. Regional transport office along with the police, traffic police all are corrupt to the bone. Shameless people.
Haha, rough day, eh?
One guy drove right behind me and was honking like crazy when I was walking. He could not stand the bus blocking his way and he came on to the side to go past it where people were walking. Majority of them have no proper conscience.
Yeah, Indian roads can be pretty stressful. Just remember that it’s nothing personal. He would have done it to anyone.
Everything is personal to them. Indians are an embarrassment to their own country. They stab each other in the back all the time. They are least bothered about their fellow Indians when it comes to money, greed and power. Its always win lose (they have to win no matter what) situation with them. They dont care who loses but they have to win by hook or by crook.
Absolutely.
Let me add another point: Occasionally, some people might not like your driving and yell at you, or ask you to pull over. DO NOT PULL OVER at any cost and keep driving.
True.
Haha as an Indian reading this, burst out laughing. Gotta say it’s quite accurate (unfortunately). I do my best to drive with sense and follow rules, but I’m only one in a million. Even my own friends who are all as well educated and understand road rules go ahead and drive like Idiots. I’ve accepted this is the way it is.
To all you people from elsewhere, don’t bother driving in India 🙂
LMAO!
I have to agree 100% with this!
I have been driving in India since over 2 decades. It was never like this, people were courteous and polite. The traffic density was certainly much lesser but all these elements slowly grew up. I don’t drive today at least not in the rush hours, which only leave very early morning and very late at night!