Indian Driving

Indian driving has perplexed me since the day I arrived.  How is it possible that accidents aren’t a regular occurrence?  Since I ride the ol’ cycle everyday, I see a lot of insane driving.  Sometimes it comes way too close to affecting me, while other times I just stare in amazement.   After witness driving in developing countries, you come to realize that there truly is a method to the madness here.  Call it “organized chaos” if you will.

On the way to work this morning, we witnessed an accident involving a scooter and smallish jeep.  Riding the scooter was a woman and her child.  Not uncommon to this country, the child was standing up in front of the woman while hanging onto whatever it could.  Not sure how easy this is to imagine, but I can tell you that it’s a danger position for a toddler to be in.  

From what I remember, the jeep at swung started on the right side of the left lane and turned left as if it were going into the right-hand lane (remember, India drives on the left).  At the same time, the scooter was turning left into the left-hand lane.  All of a sudden, the jeep decided to go into the left-hand lane, cutting the scooter off.  When the two vehicles hit, the scooter went down bringing the woman and child with it.  The woman got up right away, but there was no indication as to the status of the toddler.  After a few seconds, the woman immediately picked up the crying child and carried it off.  Fortunately, nobody was hurt, but it no doubt could’ve been a lot worse.

I overheard the passenger of the jeep saying the following after the accident had occurred:

“She was turning left and then she decided to turn right.”  Nice try, buddy.