Team-BHP - Accidents in India

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruskinash (Post 5731184)

Just because one has his indicators on doesn't mean one should make a turn right away, look first, and turn only when it's safe.

Signal of any sort does not give right of way. But the road to the left is your road. Not that bikers know that.

Quote:

The biker perhaps assumed that the car was waiting for him to pass, as is usually the case (this time the biker learnt it the hard way).

Why would he assume that, when he should not do it anyway? (Yes, I know, he won't be even thinking that he shouldn't.

Quote:

When making a turn, I may need extra space to navigate it properly. In such cases, I move beyond the boundaries of my lane, even into the other lane if required. However, I make sure to wait for any vehicles that may be passing by on my left before making the turn. This is to ensure my safety as well as the safety of others.

In practice, I agree, and repeat, always check for that biker. Due to 2-wheeler behaviour, this is absolutely necessary. As this driver learnt the hard way

The biggest question in my mind is how come 2-wheelers are taught to drive this way? I often find a biker trying to overtake me on the left when there is absolutely no oncoming traffic and an overtake on the right would be 100% safe*.

There are a number of default behaviours by bikers which are dangerous, illegal, or just plain stupid. Not just crazy-youth behaviour, but everyone from mum-with-kid to middle-aged office workers. I can only think they must have been taught this way.

Examples off the top of my head:

-- Left-hand overtaking
-- passing other vehicles within touching distance even when there is plenty of space
-- overtaking on a turn or corner
-- cutting in and past on a corner

To list but a few.

*PS. The video in the original post is no longer available, and I do not recall for sure, but from your GIF, it does look as if the overtake on the right would have been clear and safe :Frustrati

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom (Post 5731668)

At a junction when there was a red signal, my car had a swarm static bikers on either sides. After the signal turned green, the traffic moved. As my car started to sluggishly move ahead, I found two bikers on either sides, piloting my car.

I was honoured but fooled to feel elated like some head of state or dignitary, with bikers as pilots escorting my car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom (Post 5731668)

The biggest question in my mind is how come 2-wheelers are taught to drive this way? I often find a biker trying to overtake me on the left when there is absolutely no oncoming traffic and an overtake on the right would be 100% safe*.

There are a number of default behaviours by bikers which are dangerous, illegal, or just plain stupid. Not just crazy-youth behaviour, but everyone from mum-with-kid to middle-aged office workers. I can only think they must have been taught this way.

They aren't, at least not in the practical sense. The theory is just for the sake of acquiring a driver's license. In practice, you simply go with the flow, which means filling any gap in traffic, right, or left. From experience what I've understood is that the only contention when amiss is that who was going faster, damn the rules!

I believe it's more of a cultural thing. These same people show up at bank counters and other places with little regard for queues. It's a "ME FIRST" attitude. I call it mindlessness.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom (Post 5731668)

The biggest question in my mind is how come 2-wheelers are taught to drive this way?

They aren't taught. At least 99% of them. That is the problem.

People attend driving schools, get some driving lessons, are taught at least rudimentary road signals and behaviour, while learning to drive cars and for the subsequent appearance before RTO for driving test/licence.

Most two wheeler learners don't attend driving schools. Since they already know to ride bicycles, they borrow a two wheeler (mostly gearless) from a relative and practice for a few dayson empty streets, then start going to nearby shops, and then approach a driving school to smoothen the licence process. Some others learn to ride a geared two wheelr also the same way, the relative will explain the gear sequence and they will practice for a few days. The said relative himself might have learned the same way.

In essence they know how to operate a two wheeler (like how a chimp in a circus knows to ride a motorbike). That is not the same as properly riding in traffic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by harry10 (Post 5729880)

...For a single road I believe his speed was definitely over the speed limit ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fawlty (Post 5729906)

Bike is 100% responsible for the accident - he is entering the main carriageway from a side road, doesn't have clear view of the road ...

The car couldn't have spotted the biker either considering the blindspot behind the bus stop. Ofcourse, the car could have honked or lifted the foot off the pedal while approaching the junction ...

The car driver should definitely be aware that the general behavior of most vehicles entering the main road from a side road will be similar. Majority will just barge in without looking.

That should make the car driver cautious and maintain a speed slow enough to take corrective action in case any vehicle abruptly enters the main road.
The vehicle on the main road has to give a slight tap on the horn and anticipate such wrong moves on our roads.

The car drivers attitude/action cannot be "I'm on the main road, I have right of way so I'll zip down the road and mow down anyone who makes a mistake of entering the main road wrongly".

Its the biker's fault for entering into the main road without even looking for waiting for the car, on our roads that is the expected behavior.
The car driver was too fast for that road/situation and didn't factor in this risk and paid the price.

Quote:

Originally Posted by V.Narayan (Post 5729848)

Is it 'we 2-wheeler wallahs are immune from road rules and the law'.

It is the strong (yet foolish) assumption that any big vehicle being driven at any speed will stop when a smaller vehicle like the two wheeler is in the way.
Our laws are heavily against big vehicles and smaller vehicle drivers try and take undue advantage of this.
It’s very foolish thing to do what this guy did. Almost like he has 8 more lives left. rl:

Partially its due to the system as well. There is no added burden if you scratch a car or end up in fender bender in city roads. The offender usually don't pay / and his insurance is not covering the victim. to add to it if we involve law enforcement we will end up paying more to them than the repair itself. usually we end claiming the insurance of the victim that to if he have full coverage . I am not sure why we do not have the policy as in many other countries where it becomes the violator's insurance to cover the cost of repair even if it is a small dent and increases the insurance cost for the violator the next year. If this is the case i believe people will become more diligent and wont be driving like swarm of bees.

Quote:

Originally Posted by autoseiko (Post 5705386)

Our newly bought Swift met with a nasty accident while on service.

I opted for the pick up drop service by Maruti.

I went to the scene and the car was totally damaged. The driver, decided to avoid the traffic and got the car into the BRT lane. He saw a police was standing at the end of it so in panic,

I hope you have taken detailed pics especially the area where its broken. Also please visit the service centre and try to understand how they are going to fix this mess. I know its their fault, but the car is yours and hence you need to take some pain to ensure the work done is properly done.

This is near Mankar chowk BRT and usually there is no police in BRT, but they spring a surprise after 6-7 pm and then these scenes ( Drivers taking U turn is common ), still dont get why isnt there a police man hiding on other end the catch the U turn taking escapist.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MT_Hyderabad (Post 5730226)

Rule 17 was not violated. The driver kept distance as per the condition. Rule 18 was violated.

There is no excuse that my vehicle went back "unintentionally". When someone is driving, he/she knows that there is a speed breaker ahead and has to maintain throttle input to prevent a roll back.

If I am a truck driver with sadistic mindset, I can exploit this 'unintentional' movement daily to harm everyone around. I hope you have seen videos where a truck driver in US road rages with other small vehicles (not visible in the video) and when the vehicle comes in front and tries to stop the truck driver, the truck driver bangs the car in front, exploiting the rear end rule.

There is nothing unintentional when you are driving a vehicle. If there is, you have to anticipate and avoid it, like when moving over a huge speed breaker at a toll plaza. You are not allowed to move up and slide backwards on it. Sliding backwards and not braking can take away a car's front if the vehicle in front is a heavy vehicle like this truck. Similar vehicle can completely crush a car if it is on a hill. The driver has to learn hill assist or use hand brake and prevent backward movement.

With this, I rest my case.

Wasn't going to get into this one or whose fault it is for the Tata Ace accident posted by another OP, but in this case, you have generously agreed to part of the blame and could have extended your generosity by letting the truck driver (not the owner off with a warning). The 40 K or whatever amount that the owner paid are going to come out of the earnings of the driver.
Thus the owner took the easy route of avoiding any hassles and paying you off. It hurts him less than going to court and all the formalities before that, mechanical inspection, supredari, loss of time and business.
As for rules, both are right and this is the grey area lawyers exploit to earn their keep. (again coming from a family of successful lawyers, or atleast wealthy ones and just one high court judge)

regards kaps454

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruskinash (Post 5731184)

This is a golden rule. I face similar situation everyday. While I turn on the indicator to turn left, the narrow lane demands me to move my car slightly right to make a proper turn into the narrow lane. What I have observed is that the fools do not respect the indicator at all. They squeeze every avaliable inch to zoom towards my left, though they know they will end up under my wheel if I don't look at the ORVM. I don't have words for these s#!@heads. And most of them are.

While minding my own business at 30kmph in a city road with median, a motorcyclist fell on my path. I swerved to my right instinctively and braked in time to avoid him. A close shave. I am glad that I have dashcam in my car.

The culprit is the FZ who rashly overtook the Royal Enfield and braked suddenly causing the Enfield to lose balance and fall on my path. The Enfield guy had not strapped his helmet which separated on impact. Luckily he was okay.

I was afraid that he would get injured by my car and involve me in the accident. Lucky stars for me.

Video links:
Front cam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7QpvBajQ6Y

Rear cam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BGzcU0wp1s

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaps454 (Post 5734057)

The 40 K or whatever amount that the owner paid are going to come out of the earnings of the driver.

regards kaps454

To correct. The owner had agreed to pay some amount after I claim the insurance and get the repairing done. However, it was verbal promise only and I have already shelled out ~25k post insurance as it was a plastic part and insurance covered only half of it.

The owner is no longer reachable/picking calls and I have made peace with it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arwin07 (Post 5734160)

While minding my own business at 30kmph in a city road with median, a motorcyclist fell on my path. I swerved to my right instinctively and braked in time to avoid him. A close shave. I am glad that I have dashcam in my car.

The culprit is the FZ who rashly overtook the Royal Enfield and braked suddenly causing the Enfield to lose balance and fall on my path. The Enfield guy had not strapped his helmet which separated on impact. Luckily he was okay.

I was afraid that he would get injured by my car and involve me in the accident. Lucky stars for me.

Video links:
Front cam:
https://www.kapwing.com/videos/65ec301ede9a0c59fa52b5ae

Rear cam:
https://www.kapwing.com/videos/65ec3086adb5f244da639ef1

Oh wow! To truly understand the level of stupidity we should watch the rear cam video first to see how he had been riding even prior to overtaking you. I saw he stopped a little ahead. Was he made to realize what his actions resulted in?