Driving Mrs Michael

So, as an expat it's pretty standard in India to have a driver, as the traffic is 'bonkers' to say the least! When I first arrived I thought the only way to get somewhere on the road was to be pushy and aggressive, beep your horn constantly and just push your way in.  However after only two weeks I have realised that there is just no point in doing the above in Bangalore traffic - you should just go with the flow. Everyone expects you to be late and in the end it's only about 5-10 minutes longer anyway.

Anthony, our driver, is very patient and does not 'Sound Horn' as everyone else seems to do or drive aggressively. He is cautious and careful and doesn't make me car-sick (unless I'm blogging!!) I have come to think that with so much driving to be done its better to be safe with the boys on board and get to the destination 10 minutes later, rather then having an accident.

The boys think it would be best if we just get a motor bike or scooter - the main mode of transport here - or maybe even our own auto-rik ! What carnage we could cause then :)

Here are just a few of my Indian driving observations:

• The hierarchy of the road in India - 

1. Cows are number 1 always  - they have full right of way ! And this is something to be seen on a busy road....
2. Trucks, closely followed by buses - only due to their size and they do tend to be big bullies.
3. And then, everyone else - cars, bikes, auto-riks and people all just fight for their right to get ahead. I still think auto-riks are on the bottom but there are some very determined rik drivers who would disagree with me.

• Horns - it is advertised on the bumper of most vehicles, and therefore you're invited to 'Sound Horn'! It means anything and everything -get out of my way, move on, I'm turning left, I'm turning right, I'm parking, Hello, Goodbye, .......generally anything at all!

• There is no such things as using car seats for kids or seat-belts - we seem to be the only ones playing it safe.

• Helmets on bikes - apparently they are mandatory but this is not followed or enforced.

• The more the merrier on a scooter, auto-rik - why take two vehicles when you can crowd them all onto one.

• Glen (my brother) would love it here - a new challenge every day to get somewhere in a better time, and every time going a different route. And all the while on his beloved postie bike. He would also love the mobile phone wedged into the helmet for convenience.

• Traffic Rules, what rules ? There are lanes but why use them, there are traffic lights but often not looked at, no parking here sir, whatever !!

There is a great vision near Mike's work - there is a walkway tunnel under the railway line and at peak hour the thousands of bikes that are heading home need to cross the railway, so in a not so orderly manner, the bikes go one, or two abreast if you're game, through the tunnel - there are a group of 50 or so bikes waiting to get through. All pushing and beeping to get through.

Photos don't do the traffic justice - you'll just have to believe me.

Sunday is Anthony's day off - at some point in the near future either Mike or myself are going to have to drive in all of the above - Oh dear God !