India is one of the world's more colourful countries. It has an enormous and diverse population, arranged in an ancient hierarchical system. It hosts a blend of religions ranging from Christianity to Hinduism, with its deities and mystic philosophies. It's also a nightmare to drive in with underage driving, dangerous overtaking and overcrowding, listed as the biggest hazards.
If you are a first-time traveller to India, or you want a unique driving experience, there are some important things to remember. Cars are not the only vehicles on the road. Rickshaws, buses, cyclists, bullock-carts and the occasional elephant or camel all fight for right of way. Cows are sacred and must be avoided at all costs. The hooter is a perfectly acceptable form of communication. Hooters are used to alert the vehicle ahead of you that you are about to pass, they warn pedestrians to move with haste, and they urge cows along their slow journeys.
Travellers to India need to obtain International Driver's Permits to be allowed to drive. Licences from other countries are not considered valid. Renting a car for your Indian sightseeing also carries certain risks. Insurance is generally not included in the rental agreement, which means that you will be responsible for any damage or personal injury incurred.
Traffic regulations are comprised of enacted laws as well as informal rules. An important one to remember is that vehicles drive on the left, so keep left. Interestingly, it's against the law to use your hooter needlessly, continuously or more than is strictly necessary to ensure safety. It's also illegal to have a hooter that is harsh, shrill or alarming.
Vehicles themselves may not create undue noise, or have a muffler that produces an alarming sound. Speed is limited to 25 kph, but only when passing a meeting or procession of troops or police on the march, or when passing workmen repairing the road. In other cases speed is generally kept at 48 kph or 30 mph.
In the fight for right of way, pedestrians win at uncontrolled pedestrian crossings. In certain places a special road is provided for cyclists and pedestrians, and other vehicles are forbidden from driving on them. Road junctions are also tricky places when it comes to determining who has right of way. The general rule is to give way to traffic approaching from the right.
A final, vital rule to note is always to carry your valid driver's licence with you. You must be able to produce it should a police officer ask for it. Other documentation that should be easily available includes the certificate of registration, certificate of taxation, and certificate of vehicle insurance.
There are rules for hand signals by the driver, hand signals by police officers, cautionary road signs and mandatory signs. There are rules regulating cyclists, pedestrians and school children. All of these rules are designed to create smooth flowing traffic and increase the safety of all road users. There is, however, a chasm between writing a law stating that drivers may not make inappropriate hand and facial gestures while driving, and putting that law into practice. Advising drivers to avoid provoking other motorists, and to patiently let faster cars go by, is something that most other countries have found impossible to implement.
India continues to offer adrenalin packed driving experiences for the uninitiated. It maintains its reputation as one of the most difficult countries to drive in. If it's an adventure holiday you're after, forget a 4x4 trip up a sheer mountain face. Choose India.
Recommended sites:
http://www.indiandrivingschools.com/road-regulations2.html
http://www.fodors.com/world/asia/india/calcutta/travel_tip_1584780.html
No comments:
Post a Comment