Surviving On Aggressive Roads: Tip-toeing to Safety

Out on our roads, several parameters affect our safety on a two-wheeler. As the smallest powered-vehicle on the road, two-wheeler users are subjected to significant risks which arise due to them either going unnoticed or being hidden in the blind spot of bigger vehicles. For instance, a pedestrian planning to cross the road can get very easily hidden behind an auto-rickshaw or cargo trucks moving slowly. So, in this case, both - the pedestrian and the two-wheeler user are unaware of each other's movement (or existence) and hence are primed for a highly probable mishap.

So how to take precautions around these blind spots? Be seen and then be ready to face the unseen.

Be on the lookout for warning flags:

It begins with acknowledging the fact that smaller public transport or commercial vehicles ply in large numbers on Indian roads. They are spending a considerable amount of time on the road every day than a commuter going to work and home, which means that these users have a large window of making mistakes compared to someone who only spends a few hours every day on the road. So, keep checking for signs of a cargo vehicle or public transport vehicle that is driving erratically or may be engaged on a smartphone while driving. These are genuine threats on our roads.

Noticing the two-wheeler

Let us understand and accept that as two-wheeler riders, we are less likely to be noticed, especially by vehicles bigger than ours. It is in our interest to make ourselves visible to the bigger vehicles around us. Use the headlight pass or the horn if necessary, to protect your position on the road. Try and indulge in an eye-contact with the auto-rickshaw pilot or the small cargo truck driver to make sure they have acknowledged your position. Bigger vehicles are cursed with blind spots, so when you scan the road ahead and sideways (and sometimes behind too) for bigger vehicles that might not have noticed you, make sure you identify all possible threats and don't leave anything to chance. Even if it means slowing down or taking extra precautions - it will be far less discomfort than riding back in an ambulance. Right?

Zip-Zap-Zoom!

Like we discussed in our Surviving the Heavy Commercial Vehicles guide in the SOAR series - how they require more space and time to plan their moves and overtakes, it is quite the opposite with the small cargo vehicles. These vehicles are designed for quick and efficient city runs and hence the turning radius and steering response is relatively quick and instantaneous. Always be prepared to expect a sudden change in lane or driving behaviour of such vehicles. It is best advised to maintain as much distance as possible from these traffic-spinners to say safe.