10 Essential Tips For A Safe Road Journey In India

Having covered travelers’ medical kit essentials and the road trip checklist to prepare you for a road journey in my last two articles, I now present to you 10 essential tips for a safe road journey on Indian roads. Even after making adequate planning and preparation, one needs to be very careful while driving on Indian roads for many reasons. Every country’s roads will present unique challenges to drivers and Indian roads are no different and offer their share of challenges, some of them unique to India. I have driven across the length and breadth of the country, over the last 20 years, and in different cars and have gathered my experiences to help you be safe and enjoy your journey on the road. Here are those 10 essential tips for a safe road journey.

List of Essential Tips for a Safe Road Journey

1. Check Your Speed

Road infrastructure in India is going through a major transformation presently. You will find world class highways for 10 km and then unpaved mud road for the next 10. Even on the best of highways, lane cutting, pedestrians crossing the road, bullock carts are a common sight. Hence it is best to keep the speed at a level where you can brake to a complete halt within a few meters without skidding. Indian roads still have not reached the milestone where time to a destination by road is merely an arithmetic calculation. Hence don’t try to use speed to cut travel time. Follow the traffic flow.

2. Navigation

Navigations apps have become reliable and they are really helpful but if you are driving through country roads that are not marked and you are unfamiliar with the area, it is advised to also occasionally confirm the way to your destination from a shop keeper or any other reliable person. This can, at times, save you hundreds of miles of backtracking after hitting a dead end. Believe me it happens! There are still unmapped roads and areas and the navigation apps can mislead you way off course.

3. Overtaking

Overtaking can be tricky because trucks tend to drive on all three lanes. Besides, while overtaking, it is important that you give adequate signal and even then, be on the lookout for the tendency of the drivers to suddenly veer towards right. And also be prepared that someone can overtake you even from the left, totally unannounced.

4. Safety

Safety is a big concern, especially if you are traveling with family and are alone in one car. Ensure that you make your stops only at places that look to be safe and where you can see other families as well. Try to fulfill all your requirements at one stop, viz, refueling the car, washroom breaks, refreshments & meals and purchasing stuff rather than stopping every now and then for different requirements. Don’t ask for directions too many times and from just about anyone. That’s not a safe practice. You don’t want to be broadcasting your situation and destination to the entire population of the area. It is also best to dress appropriately if your drive is going to take your through remote stretches. Why attract unnecessary attention, right?

5. Alertness

There are places where roads or bridges end abruptly or there are unmarked crossings where anyone can suddenly come in front of you. So always drive very alert and keep your eyes firmly focused on the road. Try to depend less on automation because speed breakers can pop up in front of you out of nowhere. A broken axle can be a nightmare on a remote highway.

Also Read – Dandeli – A Nature Lover’s Destination You Can Reach By Car From Pune

6. Avoid Road Rage

I have been dreading to talk about this. However, anywhere you go, you will find idiots on the streets. Avoid getting into an argument with anyone while driving. Look at it like this – You are not going to meet that idiot ever again in life, so why risk your well being by trying to teach him a lesson? He is not going to learn and instead, may create problems for you or the least, waste your time and spoil your mood. Its best to be defensive on roads that are away from your home turf. That’s not cowardice, but being smart. You did not set out on this journey to prove a point but to enjoy. Always remember that.

7. Stay Clear of Local Mobs

Mobs gather very quickly on Indian roads. So if you find yourself in a tricky situation, try to diffuse the situation quickly, even if it means compromising over your shoulder because once the mob gathers, the variables of the settlement will change very quickly and the situation can go out of hand. Then logic and reason will go out of the window. Hence better be safe than sorry.

8. Emergency Repairs

If you must get some emergency repairs done to your vehicle, try and do them at a decent mechanic where there is place for your family to wait safely. Don’t talk too much about your plans in public or in front of strangers. Get your car fixed, pay and leave quickly. Haggling about money is also not a good idea on the highways.

9. Dealing with Law Enforcement

Law enforcement agencies change from state to state and district to district. So make sure you are compliant with traffic rules and car safety. Should you still rub them on the wrong side, its best to remain flexible and don’t get stuck for wrong reasons. I am not saying be ready to bribe but yes, be ready to accept your mistakes and pay fines, rather than arguing, because that is not going to get you anywhere.

Related – Car Humidifiers – A Must For Long Drives

10. Overnighting

If your journey requires overnight stops, try and book your overnight stays beforehand rather than hunting for them at the last moment in the dark, especially when you are tired from a whole day of driving. If you have not booked beforehand and have to break your journey for the night, unplanned, be very careful of the shady hotels on the highway. Its always better to drive into a city or town and look for a decent hotel. You might end up driving for an extra half an hour but you will have the peace of mind and get the rest you so desperately need. Finally, before you go, do not stretch yourselves on the last leg of the journey. That is a very common mistake people do. If you are tired and cannot drive further, stop immediately. Accidents can happen in the very last kilometer of your journey also. So never stretch your driving to reach somewhere. Also driving trips sometimes do not go as planned due to unforeseen road blockages or traffic conditions. Keep that possibility in mind and never ever try to make the lost time by stretching driving time or increasing speed. That’s completely against the rules of road journeys.

Driving has always been pleasure and car journeys can be full of comfort and fun if you keep the above tips in mind. Happy Driving!!

“Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly.” –Unknown