Driving in India

As I have mentioned before, what is probably the biggest culture shock when coming to India (at least Delhi and Pune) from the US is the driving. Fortunately, since we are here on business, we never have to drive. This is a good thing as I do not know if we would survive trying to drive ourselves around town. It occurred to me that there must be some sort of special driving school that Indians must attend before they are allowed to drive on the often congested roadways in India.

I noticed a seriously liberal use of the horn by most motorists there. The horn was used almost as an extension of the regular car indicators. It appeared that motorists would not honk when they were angry at another driver, they would just honk to say, "Hey, I'm right behind you, I want to get around you, please don't hit me!" I asked a colleague in Pune if Indians ever have road rage. He responded stating that the drivers drive with a lot of forgiveness. So, if they do have road rage it doesn't last. My guess is that real road rage is prevented by their policy of forgiveness while driving. I think some Americans trying to drive in India would absolutely lose it.

On the way back to the US, we flew from Pune to Delhi. I had a little time in Delhi, so I got a taxi and went around town a little (pictures to come later). I happened to get a great taxi driver. I asked him about driving in India. He said he had been a taxi driver for more than 10 years in several cities in India, including Agra and Jaipur. So I figured he was literally a pro at driving in India. He said that to drive successfully in India, there are 3 things one must have:

1. Heart - With heart, you are considerate of others. When you have heart, you don't have road rage. This is where forgiveness in driving comes in.
   
2. Brakes - Driving in India is crazy as it is. There are cars, trucks, motorcycles, mopeds, bikes, people, cows, pigs and goats to avoid while driving in India. Sometimes these things appear from nowhere. Good brakes are obviously imperative in India.
   
3. Luck - I am amazed that I do not see more accidents when driving around India. In fact I am amazed that I was never involved in even a fender bender. I indeed felt lucky every time we arrived at our destination safely.
   

I got this guy's business card so if I am ever in Delhi again and in need of a taxi, I can look him up. If you are there and you need a good tour guide and a safe driver, so can you:

VIR SINGH SAHOTA
DL1T 5754
Mobile: 9818292599
Office: Hyatt Hotel Taxi Stand
New Delhi-110066