[SLK]

Originally Posted by RunGaDa

The roads are but the cars (some) and drivers flouting the rules aren’t.

No, even the road's aren't. There are small stretches of roads where you can drive at any speed (even 200+ safely), but most roads even if marked for 120kmph aren't designed for a sustained 120, there are uneven patches bad elevated joints and what not, so much so that if you are not very careful these things can make you lose control.

The latest Delhi - Mumbai e-way is no exception, while its claimed 120 speed limit, the road surface at many places has turned poor. The KMP is a worse story, 120 limit but safe only for 80-90 if left on cruise, with poor elevated section joints.

[capnemo]

Going through this thread depresses me. But it is also an educative thread that is now compelling me to upgrade to a safer car.

But on the subject of our infrastructure and our collective road manners, I just came back from a trip to Sri Lanka and we have good lessons to learn from our neighbours.

On a 150+ km stretch from Colombo to Galle:
1. It took us around 2 hours without any stops - so consistent speeds of 60-80-100 kmph
2. Did not notice any vehicles trying to speed beyond 100 even though long stretches were completely empty
3. All vehicles mostly stuck to the left lane, any overtakes from right lane only - that too with proper left-right indicators each and every time
4. Trucks going at a decent speed but not as far as cars. No overloading, no rust-buckets - these trucks. Again, stuck to the left lane strictly.
4. Great quality tarmac. No potholes, no speed breakers, no unscientific rumble strips. Side barriers throughout (Access controlled highway) and clear signs with ample advance distance indicating stoppage lanes, merges/deviation.
5. Didn't notice a single accident on our way to and fro. There was one car breakdown, but it was being attended to, by what looked like the highway police.

To our credit, there were fewer vehicles as compared to our highways. Refer point 2 above though.

Coming to my point - it felt well and truly safe driving on their highways. And that predictability on the roads and the predictability of other drivers' road manners, the general condition of everybody's vehicles lowers stress so much. You can focus on the driving pleasure and the road, it's sights and look forward to the destination !

Driving on our highways always gives me the feeling that people are one unlucky moment away from disaster. Such a high stress factor !

[Mathan1130]

Hello all,

Saw this accident yesterday (26th Feb 2024) on my way to work. I don't have any information on how this happened .. Location - Chennai , Vanagaram bypass road. Time 12:10 PM.

https://youtu.be/5cTzYqu8PWY

[anjan_c2007]

On the intervening night of Sunday- Monday (25-26 February), two ladies on a Mercedes Benz, one among them driving the car MH 49 AS 6111, knocked down two riders who were on a Honda Activa MH 37 Q 2948. Both were in their 30's.

The accident happened at 1.30 am on the Ram Jhula, on this very newly renovated bridge passing over multiple rail tracks very near the Nagpur railway station. The ladies were returning after attending a party at the elitist C.P. Club while the two youths on the Activa were returning home after their weekend, late night walk near the old VCA cricket stadium. One of the scooter riders was killed on the spot, while the other who was seriously injured and rushed to the hospital succumbed to his injuries on Monday 26/02 evening. The car was seized by the police. The two ladies fled fearing mob fury and surrendered at the police station. Yes, even at 1.30 am a mob had gathered and it demanded strict action by the police. After getting arrested, police released the ladies on bail. Offences were registered against the Mercedes driver and also her co-passenger. The offences registered against the driver were under Sec. 279, 304 (a) and 338 of IPC and Sec. 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The blood samples of the ladies were taken though for alcohol content tests but very late, only in the morning according to newsreports. Legally, after three hours if taken, blood samples cannot stand judicial scrutiny.

The youths killed were from the lower to middle class families, one being the sole family bread earner. Both were due to get married post Ramzan 2024 and their brides were already finalised.

The question of law debated was why did the police not book the Mercedes driver under Section 304 of the IPC which is non bailable? To book a driver under Sec 304, the investigating officer has to back up his contentions to prove that the driver was drunk. Even rash and negligent driving and overspeeding invites culpability under Sec. 304. The Section 304
covers punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. It states that if the act is done with the knowledge that it is likely to cause death, but without any intention to cause death, or to cause such bodily injury as is likely to cause death it amounts to culpable homicide not amounting to murder. If the driver is either under the influence of alcohol or driving rashly or speeding, then the stricter IPC section 304 is better applied. This section 304 presumes that after getting intoxicated the driver knew that his act will cause harm. Hence, if convicted, punishment can be up to 10 years in prison. Its similar for rash, negligent driving and overspeeding where the driver is aware that by indulging in such actions, he can injure or kill a person.

The Section 304 of IPC, has provision for maximum punishment up to 10 years, and this is non-bailable at the police station level. Whereas the Section 304 a has provision for maximum punishment of upto 3 years and is bailable at the police station level. Sec. 304 covers any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide.

In many, many road accident cases the police can apply Sec. 304 but the investigating officer (IO) has to do lots of home work while doing the panchnama and preparing the police chargesheet. The police prosecutor thereafter has to also study the whole case very thoroughly and intricately to argue the matter before the Judicial Magistrate at thd trial court. The accused instantly move to higher courts with appeals and try their best with all resources to wriggle out of the situation where usually they end up getting proved not guilty or get acquitted. The public prosecutors at the higher courts very rarely get the conviction of the accused by the trial court if any, upheld.

Another newslink

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/.../108027957.cms

[Doonite]

Originally Posted by IamNikhil

Another instance of an idiot biker trying to cross lanes with impunity. The Nexon driver manages to brake just in time to avoid a collision, but a truck coming from behind, even after braking hard, ends up rear-ending the Nexon.

https://Youtu.be/OGSU5MtKeBI

To add, the person recording the video is also the reason that the Truck Driver had to hit the Nexon.

He is standing in the divided area (kutcha/dirt) between the 2 roads where the Truck initially tried to swerve. Not sure about the stopping distance, the Truck Driver made the right call to hit the Nexon at whatever low speed possible rather than the person recording, for whom the said low speeds would surely be fatal IMO.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

On the intervening night of Sunday- Monday (25-26 February), two ladies on a Mercedes Benz, one among them driving the car MH 49 AS 6111, knocked down two riders who were on a Honda Activa MH 37 Q 2948. Both were in their 30's.

I dont have the exact facts and sequence of events but in our country when I read a newspaper with the heading "car/truck hits scooter" I always ask in my mind - did the car/truck ie bigger vehicle really hit the scooter or was it the scooter that hit the car/truck. The impunity and brazenness with which two wheeler riders drive in our country it is a moot question as to who hit whom. This thread is replete with hundreds if not thousands of videos depicting the mistakes and mind numbing carelessness of 2-wheeler riders that leads to an accident and their injury/death. Our journalists are hard wired to writing in the theme of 'nasty rich big vehicle hits poor small vehicle'. If there are eye witnesses or a dashcam we will know better.

[Mechanto]

It is high time that the Ministry of Roadways brings massive reforms in terms of road safety.

From the Administration side:

• Build better roads with good lanes and shoulders.
• Make sure all signal lights work properly
• Install CCTV cameras and make use of technologies like AI to provide challans for any sort of traffic violations
• Speed Limits to be defined properly and implemented strictly

From the Implementation side:

• Road rules and safety should be part of the primary school curriculum, until it becomes a normal practice in day to day life
• Every vehicle should be mandated to follow traffic rules, be it Government vehicles, VIPs, lawyers or politicians. Only exceptions can be emergency vehicles.
• Organize awareness campaigns about road safety and the importance of following traffic rules. Educate people on basic road sense, right of way, self discipline. Above all, coach people to treat fellow citizens on the road with respect.
• Daily, small and usual offenses should not be overlooked - (Eg: driving on the wrong side, jumping signals when it is not manned, riding on platforms, illegal parking etc)
• Strict penalties for not following traffic rules. Once the penalties get severe, there will be better compliance.
• Strict enforcement of laws and severe punishments for corruption.
• ..

I visited Sri Lanka recently and was amazed by the discipline showed by people on the road, despite all the chaos that is happening there. Rules are strictly followed, people have so much patience to wait on the road for better safety. Was wondering how a country from similar genes as ours is able to do this. Need to admit that the infrastructure was much better and followed all basic standards and best practices.

Traffic violation is spreading like cancer in India, and if we don't make an attempt to stop it now, we can never come out of it. My vote goes for the party that promises traffic reforms and road safety

[anjan_c2007]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

I dont have the exact facts and sequence of events but in our country when I read a newspaper with the heading "car/truck hits scooter" I always ask in my mind - did the car/truck ie bigger vehicle really hit the scooter or was it the scooter that hit the car/truck.

While your thoughts expressed could apply to countless other posts on this thread, with the benefits of doubt in many cases though, my knowledge is based on a series of reports on this accident under reference. I will prefer to keep my fingers crossed before commenting upon who was more at fault among the two drivers involved here till the investigations are completed. The road stretch is usually deserted during those odd hours and there would have been enough space on the four lane bridge for the car to manouvre, even if the scooter riders were not driving properly. Yes, there's a wholesale market and a place of worship very near, from where the crowds or rather mob could have gathered after the accident.

https://youtu.be/nrgitHVO-J0?feature=shared

As you will see on this video link, the white Activa has been hit from the rear and is lying toppled at the extreme left corner of the road.

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

I always ask in my mind - did the car/truck ie bigger vehicle really hit the scooter or was it the scooter that hit the car/truck.

In India there is only one rule. The bigger vehicle is always at fault, the smaller one is the underdog. If bicycle hits pedestrian, cyclist is at fault. Scooter hits cyclist, scooterist is at fault. Car hits scooter, the car driver is the criminal and was driving arrogantly. Truck hits car, hang the truck driver.

Two wheeler riders increasingly throw caution to the winds. It was not so bad when I started riding. People respected their rides, and also the other road users. As I drive or ride on the road nowadays, I can easily identify riders who also drive cars, and those who ride only two wheelers. Generally in the latter case, a mirror or both mirrors will be missing. If both are present, each will be facing a different direction. Sometimes a bag will be hanging from the handlebar. It can also be judged by how close they get to four wheelers and also by the way they follow one in it's blind spot.

If you are passing a slow or parked cab by motorbike, expect the driver door to open and a head come out to spit pan parag. Just this evening I avoided banging in to a cab door because I half expected it and so evaded easily. It can't be ruled out even if it is a private car.

[arun_sharon]

Originally Posted by Gansan

In India there is only one rule. The bigger vehicle is always at fault, the smaller one is the underdog. .

This is exactly what i saw today. I witnessed a disturbing scene while traveling through the Panathur underpass in Bangalore. This narrow road is notorious for traffic jams. When vehicles halted in gridlock, a motorcyclist with a 6-year-old child passenger attempted to bypass a stopped car by passing on the left. That side of the road borders an open ditch. As the motorcyclist squeezed past, his exhaust pipe scraped the car's bumper. The contact caused the motorcyclist to lose control. With nowhere to put his foot down, he and the child tumbled into the ditch, becoming covered in drainage sludge. Passing motorists stopped to help. The angry motorcyclist blamed the car driver, and bystanders followed suit. However, I was directly behind the car and could see clearly that the car driver was not at fault. It was fortunate that no one was seriously injured in the incident.

[Fawlty]

Originally Posted by Mechanto

It is high time that the Ministry of Roadways brings massive reforms in terms of road safety.

From the Administration side:

I would like to add one more - a long term solution. Make driving tests as strict as possible including videographing the test and putting it inside the smart card driving license.

[V.Narayan]

Note of Caution: Some may find this post politically incorrect.

Originally Posted by Gansan

Two wheeler riders increasingly throw caution to the winds. It was not so bad when I started riding.

Thank you Gansan. I wholeheartedly agree with this statement.

All,

In the 1980s 2-wheeler riders were simply not as brazen and impudent in their approach as today by a very wide factor. There were the odd balls but they were the exception. Of course our roads were less crowded then in comparison. Also in 1980s and 1970s when I learnt to drive the segment of society that drove 2-wheelers is the segment that is today a member on Team BHP. The socio-economic segment, level of education, attitudes were of a different genre altogether. Without wishing to sound casteiest today there are responsible 2-wheeler riders but there is a vast army of young men with zero road training, an overdose of testosterone and an attitude towards road rules, other users and the police of "tou mera kya kar lega" {a sticking their tongue out and saying 'what can you do to me, mister'} attitude. The woke and politically correct culture won't permit me to state that today there are way too many {to use a North India term} 'launda lafadas' riding 2-wheelers. 40 years back the median 2-wheeeler rider was Mr. Srinivasan, Assist Manager at LIC, or as in my case freshly minted MBA working for the Tatas. The median -wheeler rider today assumes that the road rules, even the tattered list followed by car & truck drivers simply does not apply to them and it is the responsibility of the bigger vehicle to save the life of the 2-wheeler rider breaking rules and springing surprises.

[Dinesh Chengalp]

Originally Posted by nagarjun

This is indeed a menace. The drivers are not trained enough and on top of that they are high on their ego due to the fact that they are driving an influential person and can get away with anything.

I was recently caught in between such a mini convoy of a so-called VIP. There were about 4 or 5 vehicles. Couple of them zoomed past me and overtook a me and a truck while another one was hogging the other lane. A typical zig-zag maneuver . But I was maintaining some safe distance from the trucks and did not want do the same. The VIP car couldn't pass through and they were staring angrily at me for staying in my left lane and maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front of me.

These mid-level self proclaimed VIPs are a problem, they don't have an official protocol, so no police escort to clear the traffic or trained drivers/security detail. Just some half-goons as drivers and other men in the car. Sorry for ranting....

Agree 100%. Just yesterday, the last car in a convoy nudged my bike from behind on my right as he was trying to catchup with the rest. Lucky that it was not a big hit but he was arrogant and abusive. Not sure if its a priority for them to keep up with the convoy at the cost of risking safety of others on the road.

[binand]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

40 years back the median 2-wheeeler rider was Mr. Srinivasan, Assist Manager at LIC...

This is exactly my father. He was HGA @ LIC though. His 2-wheeler was a Lambretta (KLZ 2728 - I remember the number even now!).

[AutoNoob]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

did the car/truck ie bigger vehicle really hit the scooter or was it the scooter that hit the car/truck... If there are eye witnesses or a dashcam we will know better.

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

there would have been enough space on the four lane bridge for the car to manouvre, even if the scooter riders were not driving properly...

Originally Posted by Gansan

Two wheeler riders increasingly throw caution to the winds.

I don't know what exactly happened in the above case.

But I fully agree that in many many cases, two wheeler riders are looking to book appointment with almighty.

Infact, yesterday I read about above case here and in evening situation almost happened to me yesterday. I was driving in middle lane and a bike (with pillion) was in right most lane slightly ahead of me. We were going around 40kmph as there was traffic ahead that would have required us to slow down.

Suddenly, out of blue, the bike swirled to left (into my lane dead in front of me). As a reaction, I braked and swirled to left and saved myself from accident. If incase accident had happened, I am sure almost everyone would have blamed me, except for any witnesses in other vehicles behind us.

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

As you will see on this video link, the white Activa has been hit from the rear and is lying toppled at the extreme left corner of the road.

Sir, my situation yesterday would have seemed exactly same, hit from behind, lying toppled.

Again, I don't know who was at fault in this accident, but from the information that you posted, seems more like car to be blamed. Further, the act of police of not collecting blood samples in timely manner raises suspicion on car driver.