Back home, I drive a lot and I like driving. Being able to just pop in the car, roll the windows down, relax, listen to music and just cruise. All that considering the traffic in Toronto is pretty bad sometimes. There are many mornings I don’t feel like driving anywhere but I think I have found a new appreciation for Toronto traffic…
In India, they drive on the left side which would take getting used to but that compounded with everything else, I’d surely be in a collision. Before coming to India, we were cautioned on traffic and that it was something that would take getting used to. As well, the fact we are not allow to drive here for ‘safety reasons’ was also a good warning sign and is probably for the best. I’m very thankful our NGO has coordinated a driver to pick us up and drop us off every day because they weren’t kidding.
The only word to describe the traffic is chaotic. Traffic lights are non-existent. Traffic lanes, if painted on, are merely suggestions. There are no crosswalks. You are fighting for space on the road with other cars, busses, transport trucks, merchant karts, bicycles, motos, and tuk tuks all weaving in and out of traffic. The most interesting part is that vehicles are not the only obstacles.
There have been many mornings were dogs, goats, and cows are all just trolling along and park themselves in the middle of the road. In Jaipur, there were also elephants and camels but in Delhi, the usual suspects are the cows. They are the funniest. Sometimes they just hangout in middle of the road and look passively as people honk incessantly at them. The other day, a large bull was sun bathing on the medium and suddenly decided to leap into traffic. Thankfully our driver Sumesh avoided what was sure to be a head-on collision.
Now despite all those fighting for space, the most interesting part is that turn signals are often ignored and replaced merely by horns. Horns and honking all the time. All the time! Honking and beeping indicate “move” or “I’m here” or much longer tones meaning “we’re all stuck in traffic and nothing is moving but were all going to honk to express we want to MOVE”.
And despite the traffic volume and my perceived lack of order… it works. The drivers all stop as people cross the street, step out boldly not looking and halting trucks with just a hand wave. Cars swerve nonchalantly around herds of goats or strolling cows. Merchants set up stands to sell goods in areas the traffic often gets heavy. Five lanes of heavy traffic flow into one wide open patch of concrete and like birds flying in formations knowing exactly where each other are going, the cars and trucks and bikes all follow the same routine. It is fascinating.
A couple evenings while out for dinner, we have taken tuk tuks/ rickshaws back to the hotel and that is the most nerve-racking yet fun experience. It is like having a Formula One race car driver chauffeur you in a go-kart going 60 Kms/hour. It is fascinating.
Something I never thought I’d say is that I’m looking forward to traffic lights and some of the calmer traffic jams on the 404 back home. Until then, I will enjoy every bit of the ride :)