Author Topic: Driving in India? (Read 2780 times)

tizaala · « **on:** October 19, 2013, 08:10:55 pm »

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=215653181793233

found a better link.

Factotum · « **Reply #1 on:** October 20, 2013, 12:09:28 pm »

We went on holiday to India for a special treat - and we had a driver and an Ambassador car for 2 weeks driving around various wildlife areas and cities.

The driving 'rules' seem almost non-existent - on some of the wider roads we saw a moped (with 3 up) being overtaken by a small car, being over taken by a heavily overladen lorry being overtaken by a bus - all that lot were coming towards us - as we over took a moped and a heavy overladen lorry etc, etc... And all of us were avoiding some cattle that happened to decide that the side of the road was a good place to go for a walk.

Interesting being a passenger in such circumstances.

Sue

john and helen · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2013, 12:20:28 pm »

its the same in Nepal
we were coming down a mountain pass , just entering a small village, the road was wide enough for 1 & 1/2 coaches

our coach started going through the village as one was coming up through the village, they couldn't work out why there was not enough room

then all of a sudden, there was this awful scratching scrapping noise, as the two coaches past each other, on the other side, the roofs of the houses where lifting

that was some experience, yet the drivers never batted an eyelid , nor did they stop to assess the damage...in a word....Crazy

Fleecewife · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2013, 02:04:22 pm »

Sounds like the lorries and buses shoving past eachother on the road outside my house

Occasionally one tips into the field, but not as far to drop as in Nepal

Tizaala - your link came through as loads of computer speak so I haven't been able to view it.

suziequeue · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 2013, 02:07:31 pm »

Oh God - nepal.... the yaks on the mountain passes......... and that's nothing compared to finding a herd of yaks (or Tzo above Lukla) belting towards you when you are halfway across one of those rickety rope bridges.

northfifeduckling · « **Reply #5 on:** October 20, 2013, 09:03:38 pm »

we're just back from a fortnight in Kathmandu and l it's been absolutely fabulous as a passenger! Like in the video no apparent rules but I actually felt safer in a car there than being a passenger here with OH - what does that mean I wonder ...

Lesley Silvester · « **Reply #6 on:** October 20, 2013, 10:56:34 pm »

Scares me just watching that video. My son lived in Nepal for some years and may be going back there. His wife is already there. I don't even want to think about them driving over there if it's anything like that video.

northfifeduckling · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2013, 07:16:27 am »

Your son's been driving there, Lesley

? Amazing and how brave! The taxi drivers are absolute stars. I don't think I could learn to drive with that awareness of space ....It is probably much safer than it looks from just watching the video as most traffic is going really slowly compared to here at home.

Lesley Silvester · « **Reply #8 on:** October 21, 2013, 02:57:30 pm »

My son and his then fiancee (now his wife) cycled 3,000 miles round Asia last summer. Some of the roads were very quiet, some were hardly roads and some were horrendous and, reading between the lines, they were quite scared at times. He used a scooter when he was working in East Timor and was knocked off by a minibus pulling out in front of him. He and his pillion passenger were airlifted to hospital in Australia, my son with a broken collar bone and his friend with several broken bones. No insurance in E. Timor, so no compensation. At least the scooter was unrideable so I didn't have to worry about that any more.

His job is quite dangerous and I'm not sure which is more worrying, the job or the roads.

northfifeduckling · « **Reply #9 on:** October 21, 2013, 06:40:53 pm »

yes, 2-wheelers are definitely more vulnerable all over the world, I don't envy him. Hope he can stay safe, Lesley. we will always worry about our kids how old they may be!