Traffic Rules in India

This is courtesy if our guide, Krish, an overflowing source of information and amusement! It's a good topic for today, as we are on a long road-trip from Delhi to Jaipur.

Article I: the assumption of immortality is required of all road users.

Article II: Indian traffic, like Indian society, is structured on a strict caste system. The following precedence must be accorded at all times. In descending order, give way to cows, elephants, camels, buffalo, pigs, goats, dogs, heavy trucks, buses, official cars, pedal eivckshaws, private cars, motorcycles, scooters, auto-rickshaws, hand-carts, and pedestrians.

Article III: all wheeled vehicles shall be driven in accordance with this maxim: to slow is to falter, to brake is to fail, to stop is defeat. This is the Indian driver's mantra.

Article IV: use of the horn (also known as the "sonic fender" or the "language of the road". Cars: Short blasts (urgent) indicate supremacy, i.e. In clearing dogs, rickshaws, and pedestrians from the path. Long blasts (desperate) denote supplication, I.e. to oncoming trucks "I am going too fast to stop, so unless you slow down we shall both die ". In extreme cases this may be accompanied by the flashingif headlights (frantic). A single blast (casual) means "I have seen someone out of India's1.2 billion whom I recognize. " " there is a bird in the road which at this speed could go through my windscreen", or "I have not blown my horn for several minutes." for trucks and buses all horn signals have the me meaning: "I have an all-up weight of 12.5 tons and have no intention of stopping, even if I could.". This signal may be emphasized by the use of headlights.

Article V: all maneuvers, use of horn and evasive action shall be left until the last possible moment.

Article VI: in the absence of seatbelts, car occupants shall wear garlands of marigolds. These should be kept on at all times.

Article VII: rights of way. Traffic entering a road from the left has priority. So has traffic from the right and also traffic in the middle.

Article VIII: Lane discipline. all Indian traffic at all times and irrespective of the direction of travel shall be ignored.

So, I'm glad to be a passenger today observing this wonderful system!

Location:Haryana, India