A Parent's Nightmare!

Aussie Thoughts said:
Funny thing is, the entire time I was there I don't recall seeing one accident.
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It is funny how that works. I'm sure eliminating foreigners from being in the mix without a driver helps. Maybe there are cues that locals understand that you didn't see to help navigate the seeming chaos? I've never been to India to speak from experience, but that video Senthil posted makes me think I'll need to have a few drinks before I can relax and let someone else drive me around there. Perhaps the constant horn blaring has a sonar effect to let people know from what unexpected direction a vehicle is coming?
 
Aussie Thoughts said:
That's an understatement. When I was there a while back, it seemed as though in some areas there was no hard and fast rule about which side of the road to drive on. In other places obeying traffic signals and using headlamps at night seemed optional. In town it wasn't unusual to encounter 4 people on 1 motor bike or passengers riding on the outside of a vehicle. We were beginning to think indicating intentions to turn was forbidden as was braking prior to touching the bumper of the car in front. Evidently though, constant sounding of the horn is mandatory. Funny thing is, the entire time I was there I don't recall seeing one accident.
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All of the above and more. My driver in Delhi had driven professionally for 35 years, and never had a single fender bender. The professional drivers are incredibly good at it. But there are accidents.

It helps to know the informal rules. As a pedestrian crossing a busy street, it can be really intimidating at first. But the 'rule' is to just start walking and keep a steady pace, trusting they will avoid you. (and they do) On a busy new 4-laner the last time we went, they had built a pedestrian walkover at a village. We saw a goat up there as we passed under, but no people. They were just running across. Brake places must make a mint.
 
Namaste Jesus said:
Did you guys do your own driving? I've never been to India, but some have said tourist are not allowed to drive there.
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You probably could, but it would be very stupid of anyone. Some young and proud men think they can ... you know, the types that can do anything ... but once they get to an airport or on a road, that idea vanishes pretty fast. I've driven professionally here, and I would NEVER attempt it.
 
Namaste Jesus said:
Did you guys do your own driving? I've never been to India, but some have said tourist are not allowed to drive there.
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I didn't personally, I'd need combat pay for that, but some of the other members of our crew did with a little help from the various guides we picked up along the way. I don't really know what the rules are there, but our vehicles belonged to an embedded news crew so we really weren't considered tourists.
Senthil said:
We saw a goat up there as we passed under, but no people.
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We saw a great big live ox lying in the middle of the road. The locals were pretty much treating it like a lane divide just as if it'd always been there. They'd run across one lane, actually step up onto the ox and wait for the other lane to clear!:eek:
 
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Aussie Thoughts said:
I didn't personally, I'd need combat pay for that, but some of the other members of our crew did with a little help from the various guides we picked up along the way. I don't really know what the rules are there, but our vehicles belonged to an embedded news crew so we really weren't considered tourists.

We saw a great big live ox lying in the middle of the road. The locals were pretty much treating it like a lane divide just as if it'd always been there. They'd run across one lane, actually step up onto the ox and wait for the other lane to clear!:eek:
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Cattle definitely have the right of way. One of the problems with the new infrastructure (four lane highways) is that they don't put up barriers and underpasses for animals. Rebuilding India will take some time and patience. In the old cities there is little you can do, but in outside areas you can.
 
StevePame said:
It is funny how that works. I'm sure eliminating foreigners from being in the mix without a driver helps. Maybe there are cues that locals understand that you didn't see to help navigate the seeming chaos? I've never been to India to speak from experience, but that video Senthil posted makes me think I'll need to have a few drinks before I can relax and let someone else drive me around there. Perhaps the constant horn blaring has a sonar effect to let people know from what unexpected direction a vehicle is coming?
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You liked that video? This one is better, and perhaps more realistic. You can see how it just sort of flows along, like some river.
 
Organized chaos. The whole country's like that. In the markets you'd swear buyer and seller were about to come to blows. Then all of a sudden it's smiles all around and everyone's happy.
 
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Senthil said:
You liked that video? This one is better, and perhaps more realistic.
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Yikes! Looks like a large scale version of what I had to put up with on a daily basis in Lautoka, Fiji. I hate confusion like that. Of course I'm sure the Indians in Fiji and those of India don't see it as confusing at all. To them it's just another day.
 
I have a feeling I'm going to regret this, but look what daddy bought for his son.
1978-Holden-HQ-Ute.jpg

It's a Holden HQ UTE
(That's a 1 tonne version of the Chevrolet El Camino for you yanks.)​
 
Namaste Jesus said:
Why? Looks like a safe, practical vehicle to me.
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Down here, a vehicle like this is like having a Corvette with a pick-up bed attached to it. It's got an injected 350 V8 under the bonnet; not the car motor, the 4 bolt main truck motor. That's coupled to a 5 speed Supra gear box connected to a 9 inch Ford posi spinning 4/11's! Nuff said?
 
wil said:
Oh his is a heckuva conversion...one ton?
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I shouldn't think the El in the pic I posted is a 1 ton. Those sold here were all 1/4's. Most of those conversions were done to save a vehicle with a rusty bed. Damn nice how some of them turned out though.
 
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