DRIVING IN INDIA NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART

 The best way to describe driving in India is ORGANIZED CHAOS.

Are there lane markings? Yes. Do drivers use the lanes? No.

There may only be 2 marked lanes on a road and yet somehow you will see 3, 4, or 5 lines of merging and crossing traffic. What fascinates me is the ability for Indian drivers to function so well in the complete lack of defined and intended barriers. To foreign eyes it seems all the drivers innately know how to integrate themselves into this chaotic symphony that is the Indian road system.

Some interesting observations:

* Horns are used heavily instead of signals, if you are sensitive to noise pollution be ready to bare through hearing obnoxious honking on a daily basis.

* Drivers will take every opportunity to SQUEEZE into any space available and as close as possible without physically touching the other vehicle.

* If you are riding in a rickshaw (this small vehicle generally has no windows but is pretty open) be prepared to get dirty from the dust out on the streets. Many women wear scarves wrapped around their heads and faces to conceal themselves from this.



Can a foreigner drive in India? Check here for more information:
https://morth.nic.in/international-driving-permit-idp

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