On my recent visit to Hyderabad, I had to go to several places in the downtown area. I was truly amazed at the amount of 2-wheelers! It seemed that 8/10 vehicles was either a scooter or a motorcycle. I witnessed many of the 2-wheeler drivers cutting in front of other cars and squeezing between large buses etc. Whenever we approached a red light, the 2-wheelers would jockey into position by getting in front of other cars and lined up about 10 across! Once the light turns green look out....horns blaring, 2-wheelers jumping other cars, total chaos. Like everyone needs to be ahead of anyone else. Fortunately, I only saw one accident in which a 2-wheeler driver’s body was smeared all over the road. I think he/she cut in front of a bus. Very sad to see this...Thank God, I survived the whole time I was there.
Also, crossing the roads is another adventure as there are strict no cross walks. I heard there is something called a ’zebra crossing’. Supposedly, this means a designated area to cross the road. Nobody cares about any zebra crossings. As you take a step forward, another vehicle approaches. I almost made it across but was stuck as the stream of cars, kept coming. Finally, I closed my eyes and just ran for my life! I am used to cars at least stopping for pedestrians to cross the roads, not preventing them from doing so.
Indian traffic is unlike anything I have come across. My wife once drove her vehicle to her office in Banjara Hills. This time when we went, she told me many times, ’’I don’t know how I drove in this traffic’’. She did admit that the number of vehicles has increased signficantly. Well, this is my experience with Indian traffic.