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My experiments with lane driving
Written By Bheema.Upadhyaya - 10 November, 2010
Traffic Bangalore Road Safety Driving lanes Analysis Transportation Enforcement Honking
After we saw good inputs on this post , I was really interested how would it really look like if some one practised lane driving. So I have given a try in my own way in Hosur Road, which has now clearly marked 3 lanes from Silk Board to Electronic City. So my experience may not be relevant to other roads or any other contexts.
Preparations:
1) Made sure that I have enough time to make this experiments. Usually I used to take 25 mins during offpeak hours to travel. I have made sure that I have 1 hour for this experiment on daily basis for a week and now continuing.
2) Made sure that experiment is done during off-peak hours only, so that I dont create chaos in road, just because of one person.
3) I made double sure that all my lights work correctly.
4) Prepared myself to subject to face harsh/bad words from public, still to maintain peace, or loose out if any arguement happens.
5) Took the experiment when signals where on. (Say 11am to 6pm)
6) Made sure that avoided *really* rash auto/cab/bmtc/van which might be scary.
Preparation were to be more than real experiment due to risk involved :-). And it may not be called experiment in a sense, may be called as learning best practice at risk
Method and observation:
1) Took middle(leaving 1 foot from lane marking) of middle lane and drove at almost constant speed of 60-65KM. I presumed that speed was justified for middle lane of Hosur Road during that time and condition.
Observed:
- Drivers honked me to give way to them when the right lane was blocked due slow moving vehicle. I respected and gave way. But reaction was not good, drivers used to stare at me and continue. Some drivers honked me even if right lane was free to overtake me. They wanted me to give way, just not overtake me for whatever reason. Some drivers even got angry, overtook me just keeping a very short distance to "teach"(threaten???) me, how to "behave" in road.
-Some autos thought it was really "safe" to in middle lane, kept going in 40kmph in middle road. Got really tempted to honk at them, but sustained for a while and overtook from rightlane. Once I overtook, I made sure that I when went back to middle lane and reduced my speed to 35kmph and kept position at just safe distance from them just to "teach" them. Out of 3 instances, 2 auto drivers sensed the logic and took left lane promptly, the third one happily kept same lane, might have thought I am sane:)
- Some motor bikers, kept speed of almost 60kmph and kept their position at left of middle lane. For most of them when I approached, I was at their blind spot. I was not sure if they want to really keep the position or to change lanes. Got really confused, this time I briefly honked at least when I am 5 meters away from them. Out of 2 instance, one guy changed lane to left and continue,another guy followed "auto" patterns, means they reverted once I passed.
2) When nearing signal continued to keep same lane, as I dont need to turn to any other road. Situation is very bad there.
- As I followed middle lane most of the times I was last in que. So most of drivers overtook me from both side to advance.
- When I stopped keeping a safe distance from vehicle in front: A heavy vehicle driver from back felt, I am wasting "space". So kept honking consistently to move me out of his way , but in vain.
- When I stopped keeping a safe distance from vehicle(Lorry) in front: A small car driver felt so happy . Overtook me from left slowly using his full driving "skills" and just managed to keep his/her "nose" in front of my car, so that he "reserved" lane to him. Why not right side? Another instance, same "skill" was shown from right side. Urgency mattered. I was prompted to honk to show my gesture, but sustained and gave way. But see , there were que of small cars and cabs and who aligned and made a new row :). So just manged to "break" row by moving my "nose" "skillfully". You know the result? Their que merged in my (middle) lane.
- When I stopped in front as first vehicle in waiting and kept my position in middle of middle lane: I had a *real* impact, specially when my left vehicle and right vehicle also kept them middle position of their lanes. Most of following vehicles followed lanes, nicely, though I didnt get full view of back positions. Interestingly, all two wheelers happily managed to come forward and postion themselves in racing positions in "zeebra crossing" in front. But when green signal was on, they went ahead immediately without causing any blockage.
- When I stopped in front as first vehicle in waiting and kept my position in middle of middle lane: second scene. I kept my vehicle 2 meters away from signal. You guessed right, driver behind me honked wild. But for a short life, two wheelers covered space, then happy happy.
- To be continued as experiment continues (not intending to extend much)
Update: I have posted picture of my car which is pasted with plain paper banners.Pardon me for simple implementation, its not a sticker. Planning to get a colour printed sticker after sometime. I thought its enough for time being. Is there a better way to implement?
COMMENTS
Bheema.Upadhyaya - 18 November, 2010 - 07:14
Added to above observations I have seen our drivers do not seem to plan exits either in single or in multilane roads. You know BMTC drivers already, very common to see them in extreme right lane, when they reach bus stop they will slowdown and take sharp cut towards left to make a stop (sometimes near bus stops and other times on the middle/left lane itself). Other drivers too seem to have same tendency. Even though some drivers want to take right in coming signal, they will be in extreme left and when stop at signal, they want to change lane, immediately after green light is on.
Bheema.Upadhyaya - 18 November, 2010 - 11:47
... mentioning "due to traffic" reason for delay in attending meeting. What a contrast !
nl.srinivas - 19 November, 2010 - 06:17
People can create messy traffic jams and lose time than wait for a few seconds to allow other vehicles to pass. Beats me really.
I also stick to my lane as much as possible ignoring all the honks and stares and being tolerant towards idiots who keep jumping lanes for no reason. And it doesn't really slow me down. May be I may take 5 more minutes to reach my destination.
@Vasanth
I aslo travel by mysore-bangalore road quite frequently and very rarely I cross 80kmph. Sticking to this speed limit makes driving a pleasure. Again all it costs me is 10 or 15 minutes.
And if you have traveled by mysore-madikeri road, there is 3 feet wide lane on either side of the road for the bikes. I very rarely saw a biker straying outside this lane and bigger vehicles trying to hog this lane. Safe and fast for everyone.
Bheema.Upadhyaya - 17 November, 2010 - 17:28
Observations after a week of trial:
a) It seems *all* drivers are looking for just minimum space where they can "position" themselves to race ahead.
b) It seems really there is no difference between "so called" educated and other people. I have seen several drivers who seems owning high-tech vehicles and (seem like big shot IT guys with thier company logo), drive in same way. Mostly they think lane marking is only for plane take off :) They are concerned their Toyotas, Hondas may take off if they aligned properly to lane.
c) It seems owners and drivers of more sophisticated cars are more ignorant as they have more "pride"(stupid) and have better control. Yes, they have better control and bound have such egos. Note: Mine is old car, hence risking a little :)) I am jealous about their modern cars :)
d) People thought I am "wasting" space when I align to middle of lane and keeping a space between my car and front vehicle. Moreover, it seems they felt angry when two wheelers are easily escaping(not really, I just left space for my imaginary two wheeler lane line). Happy two wheeler drivers easily passed through to signal front(which looked like war front).
e) It seemed few of our small car/auto drivers are have inferiority complex. Even when they had no competition and had full lane to occupy, they tend to make space for other small cars. Thus unknowingly and with courtesy breaking lane driving. Felt pity for such drivers.
f) As I have become selective deaf (Kannada: ಜಾಣ ಕಿವುಡು) for honking, no note about it, as I would be loosing good spirit of experimenting.
But a positive note : I dont see signal light because fellow drivers, the last vehicle tells me signal is on. Mostly all of you follow same this undocumented signalling. Crowd-sourced signalling - we must invent some good gadget out of this behavior of people, to be patented in my name :)
g) Drivers are really consider even seconds in driving. They want save seconds in road even if they are fine to scheduled meeting half an hour late. They want to save few seconds, and occupy few meters - time is money, space of course a real estate near signal !!! They want to save few seconds , but its ok to loose it in next signal, be first to be there :))
h) It seems Indian psychology (not sure) that we should never have any vehicle in front of our vehicle at least upto a distance of 10 meters. I have seen even though the poor driver moves same as our speed, we tend to increase speed and chase that lane driver out of the way. Even I had inner push to do the same, somehow controlled (required Yoga control !!!). So this is where I became point of observation myself. So dear soul, improve yourself first !!!
i) I have shown courtesy to few drivers who wanted to overtake me in a legal way - knowingly or unknowingly. As per US practice, if someone tail-gaits , we are supposed to leave way. When I tried the same, few drivers face expression showed I have lost competition. In two case, I have got happy faces looking at me with "thank you" smile. Very rare !!!
This post will be continued, till experiment/observations/feelings continue...
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