DriveBlog

Mobile phones kill...

...and I'm not talking brain cell damage here.

I don't know for sure if the photograph below is genuine, but if it is, well, it speaks for itself. I'm not really one for posting stuff for the heck of it (or for preaching, for that matter) and went over my decision to put this up a couple of times before I finally did. But then, way too many times have I seen motorists like this guy put their own, and other's, lives at risk and this if nothing else, should serve as the grimmest of reminders. People, if you HAVE to take a call when you're driving, pull off to the side of the road and yammer away to your heart's content. If you're in such a dang hurry, atleast use one of those hands-free things.

Please do not click on the link below if you are easily disturbed by graphic visuals of road mishaps. I am, and didn't have someone to tell me otherwise. Now I have this hollow feeling inside and want to go home. Drive safe, y'all.

This photograph was supposedly clicked in Bangalore, India recently. The gentleman in question was using his mobile phone while riding his two-wheeler.

Note: If any of you who come by here knows for a fact that this is a fake, let me know. I'd be most glad to yank it off.

Tell me why...

Why is traffic the very WORST on Monday mornings? I mean, people get to work on the other four days of the work too, right? Why then does it seem like there are more cars, bikes, cycles, people and everything in between on the roads on a Monday morning than there will be on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - all combined? Why does it take me twenty minutes on a Monday morning to cover a stretch, inch by coma-inducing inch, that would on any other day, take me just three? And why, pray tell, does everyone drive so badly on Monday mornings?

Need I say more?

www.howtodriveacar.com

Maine in India

(In) Maine and/or Massachusetts:
Always stop for cows in the road.

(In) India:
Same rule. But, if you have any snacks in the car, share them with the cow. He could be your great-great-great grandfather.

And more from a tongue-in-cheek and very funny piece on why driving in India and Maine / Massachusetts, New England is so similar...or different, depending on which way you look at it.

Maruti's cool schools

Now this is something that the anything-but-dull roads and traffic situations in India [link via Route79] could definitely do with. In what seems like a 'give-back-to-the-Indian-driving-public-what-it-gave-to-you' gesture, Maruti Udyog Limited has announced plans to introduce new driving schools of world-class standard, where they will impart, among other things, 'attitude training to deal with different situations on the road'.

Blown away?

A blow-by-blow (couldn't let that one by, could I?) of what you should and shouldn't do when one of your tyres gives way during a (high-speed) drive:

• A car veers wildly in the case of a front tyre blowout and less so in the case of a rear tyre one. Don't steer suddenly, but try to slow down and get to the side.

Fuel Stop?

The next time you give the low fuel warning indicator a miss and realise that your tank is on the drier side, don't panic. Just take a few deep breaths, utter a silent prayer to summon forth your best driving skills and do as follows.

• Stop and enquire as to where the closest pump is - and remember to switch off the engine while doing so.

Fatal statistics

Now you know: The 80000 deaths that occur in India every year as a result of road accidents cost the country over Rs. 55000 crores.

Now you also now: Tamil Nadu stands 2nd in India in terms of road accidents and expects that number to grow by 400% over the next 20 years.

So what?

I don't understand what the big deal is. This happens everyday at everytrafficintersection in Chennai after 11 PM. =)

The right angle

60% of drivers involved in accidents that happened because the cars involved changed lanes claim that they couldn't see the other car coming up behind them.

Keeping your sideview mirrors should be at a 90 degree angle to your car helps reduce blind spots and allows you to see cars coming up behind you for a longer period of time. Atleast that's what this presentation says.