Team-BHP - Accidents in India

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenren (Post 3146874)

IF all the occupants were wearing seatbelts, then yes. I've rarely seen a back seat passenger wear seatbelt in India. So we can't be entirely sure on that. The passengers could be thrown around inside the cabin if they were not wearing seat belts, since the car toppled.

I am ridiculed when I ask the back seat occupants to wear that damn seat bealt - Simple reply - its not mandatory. My reply - I dont care a damn if its not, either wear the seat belt or get a bus/auto.

Quote:

Originally Posted by phamilyman (Post 3147313)

or many TBHPians. I think it was a bangalorean only who proudly claimed to drive bumper to bumper to avoid motorcyclists darting in/out.

Aha. I see you remember me. :D

But again, there are conditions in which one drives bumper to bumper.

For me, its' got to be in 1st gear and less than 5kmph only, where bumper to bumper is safe (as per me). It keeps me safe from those 2 wheelers squeezing in and scratching my car.
At sane speeds of anything beyond 10-20kmph, I keep a good 1/2 car distance from the vehicle ahead of me. :thumbs up

Again, all of the above is as per my perception and experience and driving conditions and time of day, etc. I would rather let those bikers squeeze in than me bumping into the car ahead of me, when its raining or in the evening, when the visibility is low or I'm tired.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soumyajit9 (Post 3147358)

Aha. I see you remember me. :D

But again, there are conditions in which one drives bumper to bumper.

I only abuse when I am out alone on the road, otherwise I never use such words in front of my mother, wife and child.
:uncontrol
You see where the slippery slope of logic is going.

(to all, not u Soumyajit):
Let us be equally considerate to the driving of others on the road and not judge them simply because they've had an accident and we haven't? Esp when many of us were just not there at the time of the incident!

@dzrebellz: You needn't be apologetic about seatbelts.A firm "My car, my rules" works IMHO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by phamilyman (Post 3147384)

(to all, not u Soumyajit):
Let us be equally considerate to the driving of others on the road and not judge them simply because they've had an accident and we haven't? Esp when many of us were just not there at the time of the incident!

Absolute truth. We become too much judgemental when we see something unfortunate that has already happened. Conditions differ for each unfortunate accident.

For driving bumper to bumper, I'll cite an incident. Around the last week of May, I was driving home from work. As expected roads were absolutely choked due to incessant rains. I was in the comfort of the car, but I could see desperate bikers trying to inch their way ahead. I maintained a good gap of atleast 0.8 car to let those bikers pass through the gaps.
Reason -
1) I didn't want the biker to fall sick. They were drenched.
2) I didn't want to bump into the car ahead of me. Visibility was around 20mts or so.

I do consider every other road user and I do judge them too, depending on the situation around me. I have been doing and will do - Block those squeezing people (2,3 wheelers) when its absolutely unneccesary and uncalled for. They should learn patience and respect. Two wheels doesn't give them wings. But again, neither does 4 wheels. :D

If they act smart, they should know there is someone smarter than them. If not me, then God. :thumbs up

P.S: Ohh, forgot to mention. An "unfortunate" biker banged my RHS bumper, just because he was trying to squeeze in between my car and the one besides me. Happened this Monday, on the way to work, near Kundalahalli, B'lore, at 10:00 AM. I considered him and moved my car a little aside to the left and let him squeeze in between us. In the process, he banged the LHS ORVM of the car beside me, cut in front of me, moved to the extreme left lane and disappeared. Damage - A paint removed black scratch.
Sorry, this post should have gone to Bad Drivers or Rants on Bangalore Traffic thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soumyajit9

For me, its' got to be in 1st gear and less than 5kmph only, where bumper to bumper is safe (as per me). It keeps me safe from those 2 wheelers squeezing in and scratching my car.

Since majority bikers ride the same way (darting in and out between cars without worrying for their lives) in Chennai too, I fully understand why you do that. However, as a note of caution, the possibility of you hitting the car in front is more at low speeds, since these would be typically stop-go traffic situation where there will be barely some space between you and the car in front, reducing the reaction-time. Also, another risk here is of the car/bike behind you bumping into your rear bumper. Not to mention the stress involved in such driving.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soumyajit9 (Post 3147420)

As expected roads were absolutely choked due to incessant rains. I was in the comfort of the car, but I could see desperate bikers trying to inch their way ahead. I maintained a good gap of atleast 0.8 car to let those bikers pass through the gaps.
Reason -
1) I didn't want the biker to fall sick. They were drenched.
2) I didn't want to bump into the car ahead of me. Visibility was around 20mts or so.

I do consider every other road user and I do judge them too, depending on the situation around me. I have been doing and will do - Block those squeezing people (2,3 wheelers) when its absolutely unneccesary and uncalled for. They should learn patience and respect. Two wheels doesn't give them wings. But again, neither does 4 wheels. :D

Same here. As I mostly drive to work, I have minimized using my Bullet to commute in office hours. But been there and done that.
Here is the bikers point: It is scary to ride a bike when its even mildly drizzling on the road. The people in the cars have absolutely no courtesy of slowing down when there is a puddle of water in order to avoid splashing drain water on bikers, wont give way to them and keep honking if they slow down (well talking about most of the junta out there). All of this happens when the car is in the slow lane (left most lane) which should ideally be left to the bike riders and buses.

But hey who am I to judge others. Now as I drive to work (95% of the times) I absolutely make sure that I wont act like these guys ever.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soumyajit9 (Post 3147420)

If they act smart, they should know there is someone smarter than them. If not me, then God. :thumbs up

Very well said. But isn't it true for all of us? Bikers, Drivers, Bus drivers, TT's, Cabs? What as 'educated' people we can do is to follow rules and be considerate to others on the roads.clap:

For a brief while I was practising this bumper-to-bumper method to prevent two-wheelers (and sometimes autos) from squeezing in until one day I failed to notice this protruding hook from the back of a Scorpio that I bumped into. After effects: broken number plate, slightly cracked bumper grill, damage to some AC-related part (replaced under warranty for no charge (or it'd be ~4k INR)).

Nowadays I just relax and ride the torque. I try to take care to be slow, predictable and stick to my lane as much as possible letting others cut/cross me as they wish. Leaves me a lot less stressed out (totally worth it) by not trying to fight it out with all the two-wheelers and autos than before. Maybe lose out five to ten minutes in my entire commute.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sagarpadaki (Post 3148344)

Today morning on by ride to ECity on NICE road, i saw a XUV toppled over to the side off the road just 2 kms before the ECity toll. Looks like no one was injured. Anyone has more details on the incident?

Even I saw that Black XUV500. Not sure about the reason though.
Also, saw the below truck between NICE-BG Road Junction and Electronic City Toll,

Quote:

Originally Posted by arun_josie (Post 3148705)

Even I saw that Black XUV500. Not sure about the reason though.
Also, saw the below truck between NICE-BG Road Junction and Electronic City Toll,

This truck was carrying PVC pipes. The pipes were all over the road. Seems like by the time you have taken the picture, they were cleared.
In the evening I saw this same truck removed form its accident location and put on the road side. I damage didn't seem too much...Driver must have escaped with injuries.

I somehow can't digest that so many people doze off on our highways. I almost see such accidents on this road. They look like toys thrown by kids!