How to cross an Indian Road

bsprasad · Oct 9th, 2009, 11:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

bsprasad... I get The Hindu and the New Indian Express every day, and I do see stories of people being killed by trains, at crossings and elsewhere. One reads, also, of elephants being killed by trains. Strange: the dead elephants sometimes get a photo in the paper; the dead people never do.

India, apparently, leads the world in road deaths per head of population.

You should see this too.......Check the attachment (Courtesy Times of India - 8th October 2009)

Its sad that people just dont learn...

Nick-H · Oct 9th, 2009, 15:35

seven to ten people a day

Good grief, that must be nearly ten times worse than I would have imagined

hiranmay · Oct 17th, 2009, 12:06

Here is another side of the story!

To be a polite driver, I stopped my car the other day, when I saw a couple of pedestrians waiting to cross the street somewhere in Delhi. To my amazement, I saw the perplexed look on the face of those people, who turned back and almost ran away.

Did they think that I stopped to get an opportunity to crush them under my wheels?

bsprasad · Oct 22nd, 2009, 19:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiranmay

Here is another side of the story!

To be a polite driver, I stopped my car the other day, when I saw a couple of pedestrians waiting to cross the street somewhere in Delhi. To my amazement, I saw the perplexed look on the face of those people, who turned back and almost ran away.

Did they think that I stopped to get an opportunity to crush them under my wheels?

That was hilarious man....Hope you either had a s shock of your life

or laughed your heart out...

Keshava · Oct 23rd, 2009, 19:52

Unbelievable (to me) that after more than 30 visits to India - I still find that when crossing the street - I am too often looking the wrong way when I am half-way across. A lifetime of living where folks drive on the right side of the road has left me so ingrained with American street-crossing habits. Same problem of course when crossing the streets in the UK. I always find myself kind of in shock when I get half-way across and realize I'm looking the wrong way.

BTW - pushing the thread a little sideways: Here's a stat I ran into about three months ago.

Suraj Joshi: Here it comes. This is the worst part of the travel.

Joshi is a software engineer and he's one of 8 million people who take the train in Mumbai everyday. The trains are easily the most crowded in the world: 500 people squeezed into a 200 person car. The trains stop for just a few seconds at each station and they don't even have doors, so everyday, about 14 people die just trying to get on and off a train. That makes Joshi's train ride one of the most dangerous in the world.

KateW · Oct 23rd, 2009, 20:56

Quote:

Unbelievable (to me) that after more than 30 visits to India - I still find that when crossing the street - I am too often looking the wrong way when I am half-way across. A lifetime of living where folks drive on the right side of the road has left me so ingrained with American street-crossing habits. Same problem of course when crossing the streets in the UK. I always find myself kind of in shock when I get half-way across and realize I'm looking the wrong way.

I thought that in India you drive on the side that suits you best. i.e. least congested, quickest way etc. So whatever way you look it can be the wrong way.

Digital Drifter · Oct 23rd, 2009, 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by KateW

I thought that in India you drive on the side that suits you best. i.e. least congested, quickest way etc. So whatever way you look it can be the wrong way.

Dat is true.

These days with all the fancy cars, the only thing that seems to stop the drivers is deadly violence in terms of physical injury or the thought of dented car parts that cost a bomb to replace.

I have mixed feelings on the state of the roads. Make it smooth, there would be some maniac going at 100kmph, make it pot holed, nobody goes anywhere.

Simona · Nov 6th, 2009, 01:29

Well, I rememmber my first real road crossing in Jaipur.. I was trying to do a brave run to the other side of the street, but the last moment I just would get scared...

Well, if I would have been by myself, I would have probably dared, but my mom was with me, so I couldn't take the risk

Thus after few seconds of shifting from one foot to another, we saw a policeman

Poor guy!!! I grabed him and did not let go till he stoped the traffic

Later on, we figured out that a palm pointed towards the traffic works... Actually

Oh, hell, I miss it.

Oct 17th, 2009, 12:06	#183
hiranmay Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Gurgaon India Posts: 6	Here is another side of the story! To be a polite driver, I stopped my car the other day, when I saw a couple of pedestrians waiting to cross the street somewhere in Delhi. To my amazement, I saw the perplexed look on the face of those people, who turned back and almost ran away. Did they think that I stopped to get an opportunity to crush them under my wheels? Last edited by hiranmay : Oct 17th, 2009 at 12:08. Reason: Missed out something

Oct 23rd, 2009, 19:52	#185
Keshava Pahari-Wallah Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Noo Yawk Posts: 338	Unbelievable (to me) that after more than 30 visits to India - I still find that when crossing the street - I am too often looking the wrong way when I am half-way across. A lifetime of living where folks drive on the right side of the road has left me so ingrained with American street-crossing habits. Same problem of course when crossing the streets in the UK. I always find myself kind of in shock when I get half-way across and realize I'm looking the wrong way. BTW - pushing the thread a little sideways: Here's a stat I ran into about three months ago. Suraj Joshi: Here it comes. This is the worst part of the travel. Joshi is a software engineer and he's one of 8 million people who take the train in Mumbai everyday. The trains are easily the most crowded in the world: 500 people squeezed into a 200 person car. The trains stop for just a few seconds at each station and they don't even have doors, so everyday, about 14 people die just trying to get on and off a train. That makes Joshi's train ride one of the most dangerous in the world. Attached Thumbnails

Nov 6th, 2009, 01:29	#188
Simona Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lithuania Posts: 12	find a policeman:) Well, I rememmber my first real road crossing in Jaipur.. I was trying to do a brave run to the other side of the street, but the last moment I just would get scared... Well, if I would have been by myself, I would have probably dared, but my mom was with me, so I couldn't take the risk Thus after few seconds of shifting from one foot to another, we saw a policeman Poor guy!!! I grabed him and did not let go till he stoped the traffic Later on, we figured out that a palm pointed towards the traffic works... Actually Oh, hell, I miss it.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Share the road to Indian Himalayas in July?	tuareg	India Travel Partners	34	Aug 24th, 2009 13:10
cross cultural relationships	hey_namaste	Chai and Chat	167	Oct 17th, 2005 18:21
Best way to cross to Nepal?	kukurruku	Crossing the Border	2	Aug 28th, 2004 06:07
Cross-Country by Train?	liquidpremium	Indian Railways	6	Apr 23rd, 2004 08:37

Oct 9th, 2009, 15:35	#182
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,189	seven to ten people a day Good grief, that must be nearly ten times worse than I would have imagined