On arriving in Delhi, we studied the way taxi and tuk-tuk drivers drove through the chaotic traffic, and realized that, while everyone is vying for position, they are driving very skillfully to avoid hitting each other. There also seems to be an understanding that bigger, less maneouverable vehicles have more right of way than smaller vehicles -- like bicycles. This holds true on the country roads too, but it works well enough, provided the bicycle rider can get off the pavement on a single track road in a spot where there is a suitable shoulder.
Everybody uses their horn to announce their presence and to urge others to move out of their way. In the city, the noise can be deafening. Even in the country, the piercing timbre of the horns of nearby motorcycles is unpleasant.
On the other hand, all the motorcycles have very effective mufflers, so their motor is quiet as they go by. These bikes are clearly being used for practical transport, and are generally equipped with small 4-stroke engines, but often carry up to four people. A lot of the motorbikes are driven by young boys, but very few of them drive wrecklessly.
All in all, riding on rural roads feels quite safe. Town and city traffic is trickier because people use the road as they please; they can drive the wrong way on a four lane road, and they may cut on the wrong side of a round-about, so traffic patterns at intersections are very complicated.
No comments:
Post a Comment