Team-BHP - Accidents in India

Quote:

Originally Posted by abk (Post 1230241)

The driver of my friend's car did maintain a relatively safe distance but was speeding to overtake. Both of them had their seat belts fastened on.

A thought on these lines, before I undertake any long journey on our highways, bothers me a lot.

Whatever the driver skill may be, chances are very very minimal to avoid collisions in such cases & there will not be any reaction time.

Recently was traveling at NH in speeds below 80 kmph on an empty road. Traffic was diverted to the opposite lane due to the construction work. There was 2 lorries one behind other on the first lane & with clear road in front of me for 1/2 a km, I attempted to overtake both the lorries with my headlight on & horns blaring.

Inspite of this, the second lorry decided to move to its right into my lane. He did that when there were enough gaps for me to brake hard and direct my wheels further right into the mud. Realising his mistake, he backed off.

Here I had a chance to run into the mud or to the bush in an attempt to avoid hitting him. But if there is a divider on my right, I could hardly do anything.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DileepKS (Post 1230518)

She did get the license in the first shot, but still have the same problem of paniking and single tasking. I am taking her on practice sessions, almost every day, but no luck :(

Please let us know which route she takes.

:D

Here i'm trying to teach a colleague who used to drive an automatic in the US. I explained to her how Clutch works and what it does etc. I guess one gets (especially ladies) get spoilt by automatics.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surprise (Post 1230589)

Whatever the driver skill may be, chances are very very minimal to avoid collisions in such cases & there will not be any reaction time.

Whoever has a different opinion, please do contest here for the benefit of other bhp'ians

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torqy (Post 1230935)

My wife loves automatics, used to drive one in the UK, but has finally got the hang of clutch again.

She keeps telling me that I drive better than I walk:D and its inherent for me but for her its just another activity

Quote:

Originally Posted by DileepKS (Post 1231792)

lol: As of now, I always accompany her. I wouldn't allow her to go solo till I get VERY confident.

Heartfelt thank you from another cochin driver:D
You are a bigger man than I am. I have stopped trying to teach my better half.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surprise (Post 1231965)

Whoever has a different opinion, please do contest here for the benefit of other bhp'ians

I doubt if anyone else will have a different opinion. In the scenario you describe, your goose is well and truly cooked.
Only way is to avoid overtaking, in situations like that.
if the space "looks" tight, it probably is, it is not worth attempting to overtake then. wait till the road widens out.
It helps to know that the lorry you are trying to overtake is in turn not trying to overtake another slowcoach. make sure there are no ditches, cyclists in front of the lorry that will cause him to change lanes while you're overtaking him.
complete your overtaking maneuver as quickly as possible. do not linger alongside the lorry.
be prepared for the lorry swinging right inspite of all your precautions. being prepared is half the battle.

My approach while overtaking is to assume the truck driver or bus driver can cut right anytime without warning so in my mind am prepared to brake hard in that case.

Also i try overtaking with some sideways gap between the truck and my car even if i have to honk hard for him to make more way - gives a bit more time for you to save yourself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surprise (Post 1231965)

Whoever has a different opinion, please do contest here for the benefit of other bhp'ians

Is there a ring of desperation there? What if no one wants to contest what you said?! LOL, will you now bang head? :Frustrati

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenjiRoss (Post 1232346)

Is it my imagination or is this thread growing faster these days than in the past! Number of accidents are on the rise or TBHP members are reporting more!

TeamBHP is growing in no of members.

Quote:

Originally Posted by anupmathur (Post 1232414)

Is there a ring of desperation there? What if no one wants to contest what you said?! LOL, will you now bang head? :Frustrati

Yes, you might be right there, as there may be a ring of desperation. If no one is going to contest, well I take that as fate that could not be avoided. If someone contest with valid reason I (we) take a lesson from that. Either way thats going to benefit us, hence I do not think an option where i need to :Frustrati

Sir, Iam open to get myself corrected, where Iam proved wrong :). If I cannot do that on an online forum like TBHP, where else can that be done

Good thing about trucks is that the cabin is open, so if you approach horn blaring, he might hear and not cut in front of you.

One technique I use on the 4 lane sections here is to look a bit ahead of the truck, to see if there is a slower vehicle in front of him, or a gap in median for him to turn etc.