[Happysmiles]

Don't know about high speed driving happening in Kerala nowadays, with all the speed cameras, speed limits and dense traffic.
I have experienced some hairy situations after entering Gods Own Country, 2000 to 2012 when i drove down to Kochi from Pune.
Now, having a MH car would attract attention of some local cars and especially private buses who would would want to overtake you by using super loud musical horns and some scary driving.
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu would always be a pleasant drive like watching a children's movie.
Kerala driving would be like a thriller, suspense, drama movie all in one.
Sad to hear about deaths due to rash driving.

[Slushmaster]

After seeing many videos on Youtube and footage of accidents on various online sources, I am wondering why Kerala transport department folks are not doing anything. Many people on this forum had been the victim of rash driving done by the state run transport buses.

Here is a suggestion, not sure whether it is going to help or not. Why can't someone who was a first hand victim of these rogue drivers start a campaign on Change.org and start a petition. At least it will bring this attention to those Babus or Bureaucrats who can really make a change.


Thanks,
SLushmaster

[deathwalkr]

Because the Union is strong and will resist any enforcement of sensible rules. Will go on strike otherwise and public will suffer.

So nothing much happens.

See a KSRTC on road, give way and be at peace.

[GKR9900]

I don't think there's much that can be done. I had sent the video to that WhatsApp number which was proudly displayed at the back in case of rash driving and guess what happened? Nothing! If you look at the sheer number of stupid comments below that video, some of them even hailing this KSRTC driver as an expert. Sad to say this, but I fail to see that 100% literacy of my state that was bolted into my head since a young age!

[fjcruiser08]

Originally Posted by GKR9900

Anyone who has travelled by road in Kerala would’ve had at least one horror story.....

That video was horrible enough... I don't need more horror. I am wondering though, how come the public doesn't take matters in their own hands? You would think that people will force stop such vehicles and beat the crap outta the driver for endangering life and property at basically every turn. I remember a couple incidents of such public reaction/discipline on Maharashtra roads but that was from 20+ years ago. Does that not happen anymore? Do these drivers fear nothing whatsoever? I am not promoting mob action/violence but if the powers to be don't give two shits, what recourse do we have left?

[praveesh4u]

Let me make it clear that I am in no way justifying KSRTC drivers but stating the sad state of general driving etiquette in Kerala. The roads are narrow and the vehicle density is growing day by day.
The percentage of households that have a car in Kerala is 24.2 against the national average of 7.5. Similarly, the percentage of households that own a two-wheeler is 58.2 against the national average of 49.7.
With this type of vehicle density, traffic violations and aggressive driving are not just limited to KSRTC buses or private buses. People really need to improve their driving habits. A few 'phenomenons' that can be observed on Kerala roads are

• No lane discipline. If you are stuck in a block a majority of the drivers don't think twice to drive in the opposite lane and then block the oncoming traffic which further increases the block
• If you are overtaking on a two-lane road and someone is coming from the opposite side in any automobile, they will accelerate towards you instead of continuing in their current speed or slowing down. Some legends on two wheelers would even take their hands off the handle to flip you off
• Low beam at night. 99% don't use low beam. If at all, they will add a few more LED lights to blind you.
• Not giving side to transport buses even if they are traveling at a leisurely speed

.

[SaiSW]

Originally Posted by giri1.8

Such behaviour is why people are okay with privatisation even though we end up paying a bit more.

I do not know about other states but in Kerala, the private buses are just as bad, if not more. Also, private bus drivers are prosecuted more than KSRTC drivers because they don't have unions as strong as the KSRTC union. State RTC unions are like a mob, they will go on a strike and then the general population will suffer. You cannot touch these people.

I've always given way to these killers on the road, but sometimes I do lose my patience and I did give one of them a BIG piece of my mind recently. For the rest of my journey, that fixed his rash driving as long as he was behind me.

Originally Posted by McLaren Rulez

It's been this way for years now. While some T-Bhpians from Kerala might agree with this post, the average person in KL thinks those guys are "expert" drivers. So there's little point even trying to explain...

Just check the comments of that YouTube video, you'll see a lot of people viewing it as "skilled and cool" like you said.

Pathetic.

[Passatman]

KeSRTC buses have always been driven fast and rashly. It was bad in the 90s , and has been steadily worsening over the years. I can recall instances in the 90s when I used to drive BLR- EKM via Mysore as well as via Salem. I once overtook a KeSRTC bus between Muvattupuzha Perumbavoor - Angamaly. The guy chased my Tata Estate and was tailgating @ 60kmph , so i stepped on it and moved to 80 and the guy was still there. Moved to 90 and as it was risky, decided to give way as the road was narrow.
I have seen these guys clock 90+ on the Trissur EKM stretch and pass those hugely overloaded 407s carrying hay which used to stick out a good 4 feet on either side!
I have always felt Kerala drivers are deft, skilled and also definitely... Mental! In comparison TN and KA drivers are docile. Maybe it's in the genes as the next gen is also just as bad and probably worse.
Or maybe all of them grew up watching that movie Duel !

[tharian]

https://youtu.be/wmqLMdDx6lA

Ksrtc trying to redeem itself?

[jeeva]

Originally Posted by anb

The Xylo too crossed the yellow line and hit the KSRTC. May be the Xylo under steered or the driver of the Xylo tried to teach a lesson

Ah, there you go. The KSRTC driver here as seen in the video footage is clearly on the wrong and yet you take it upon yourself to play the devil's advocate here. Really?

In fact, in one of your posts related to the dangerous driving in Kerala (Kerala tops in near-fatal road accidents), you even went to take it personally and make it a matter of my state vs yours! Hope you are not related to KSRTC or the driver unions in some way or the other!Amen.

[bpm_km]

Originally Posted by surfatwork

KSRTC drivers are, by far, the worst and most dangerous drivers on Kerala roads. But then they are 100% guaranteed of zero consequences, no matter what they do...... Whether it be running a traffic signal, overtaking on blind curves, over speeding, causing accidents, whatever. I once travelled on a "minnal" (lightning) service from Calicut to Ernakulam. Was so terrified that I got off midway. Have had my share of run-in with them too.
I don't believe it's going to change. Their unions are too strong and have solid political backing.

I will tell you what I did about 5 years back when I recorded ba KSRTC bus dangerously overtaking vehicles from the left. The driver overtook our car from the left barely missing dangerous contact and went on to do the same to the vehicle in front of us. I was on the passenger side and had enough time to take my phone and click a photo while he was 'on the act' right before me. That was undeniable evidence as here was the picture of the dangerous overtaking and also the number plate of the bus. This happened in Thrissur district and I immediately emailed this with a complaint to whatever email addresses I could find that were attached to the district including that of the commissioner.

Within a day, I got a call from the local police station. It was a constable who was very courteous and professional and he thanked me for sending the details. He said this was being taken up strictly. A few days later, he called me to update that the driver was suspended and would then be transferred to another location. There was to be more procedure which would need me to be present as I was the complainant, but that was genuinely impossible for me as I resided in Mumbai and then incident had happened when I was on leave from work. This is another issue - someone from outside the state where the incident happens would find it not worth it to go though the police procedures even if the police officials are are trying to be helpful.

[sravankrishnan]

Originally Posted by anb

May be the Xylo under steered or the driver of the Xylo tried to teach a lesson

What lesson? And teach who?

[Bonemechanic]

It is a horrible video, indeed. Most of the KSRTC and private bus drivers are very rude drivers. Usually, they are upgraded from "kili" (checker at the door) to a driver. They have no sense at all.

As a trauma specialist, my day-to-day life is full of accident victims. Taking history, it is understandable that many such accidents are avoidable if both parties drive sanely.

There is another view of this rash driving. I am not supporting any rash drivers, but I will blame road traffic rules. The time allowed to run a kilometer for a bus is hardly 2 to 2.30 minutes. That much distance can't be covered on Kerala roads. So, to keep time under control, they have to overtake via the left side, bumper-to-bumper drive, etc.
Besides, the next bus schedule is so close. Once they get a traffic block or anything like that, they will lose not only the present schedule but also the next trip.
Just my thoughts.

[rtdp]

Just last week I was in Kerala with my new XUV 700 driving from Pune. I wasn't aware of KSRTC reputation until I came across this thread today. I faced a similar rash driving incident and so would like to share it here -

While I was traveling from Alleppey to Munnar a KSRTC driver was behind me and trying multiple times to overtake me. This was on a road without a divider and I had slow-moving vehicles in front of me. I couldn't overtake those vehicles given blind turns or oncoming traffic but the bus was still trying to overtake me. At one point I started the overtake, but a rickshaw that had stopped earlier decided to come onto the road. At that point, I decided to cancel the overtake and merge back into my lane. But to my utter shock, that KSRTC driver had overtaken me from the wrong side and blocked my way back into the lane. The rickshaw driver was kind enough to steer off-road and give me the way so I can complete the overtake - otherwise this would have been a certain accident. Never ever had I seen such rash behavior from big vehicles on the roads until now.

[RRM]

Originally Posted by McLaren Rulez

The difference between the two is night and day. The KaSRTC drivers might have the odd bad apple but by and large, they are patient, careful and very safe. If there are slow moving vehicles ahead, they are generally trained to wait till a safe overtaking opportunity presents itself. They are noticeably restrained, even when the road ahead is completely empty.

Kerala bus drivers are... mental. It feels like they're trying to break a record for the journey every single time.

Agree to your point. KaSRTC is way ahead in its implementation, managing the operations, training etc. that I have come across so far.

KeSRTC drivers have created a fear on the road, which every car/bike/non-bus category driver/owner is aware of i.e. the moment you see the bus coming, give priority to it to pass through otherwise the KeSRTC drivers have a classic formula to wag the bus tail which is even more dangerous. The same is with Kerala private buses as well.

On the contrary, for KeSRTC long distance buses like the new Volvo/Ashok Leyland etc. branded as "Gajaraj Swift", the drivers are well trained to drive as well as to be polite with the passengers and I was surprised how this change happened. The driver + conductor (2# for long distance) have proper uniform and the buses are with speed governors i.e. Volvo is capped at 120 kmph and non Volvo will be at 80 kmph. I got to know this from the driver during one of my travel to Palakkad. Another reason of the drivers being polite are due to the fact that they are contractors and hence it makes a difference in the attitude vs a permanent govt employee. The vehicles are on lease with Volvo for 4 yrs. and will be serviced and maintained by Volvo. We can notice the difference. Post that I am not sure but for now I am enjoying the ride and the service. Moreover, it is currently running at is capacity always and hard to get tickets sometimes. Also, the driver told me that this model has worked very well and KeSRTC is in a good double-digit profit. Also, if you continuously book 10 rides via their app, the 11th ride is free it seems as told by the driver though the app is far from being user friendly. Hopefully this good service continues!