Precautions when Driving.

This is a continuation of my earlier article “Precautions at Home”.

I had a Enfield Crusader in Patna for 4 years and a Rajdoot in Durgapur and Kolkata for about 6 years averaging over 20 kms daily. I had to give up my driving about 15 years ago because of Lumbar Spondilytis. I have never driven a car because I could not afford it. When our family feels the need, we hire a taxi. My younger brother also has a “Hero Honda” and my between my sons, the younger has a “Kinetic” and the elder has a “Enfield Bullet”
A two-wheeler is a very dangerous vehicle to drive and unless you are extraordinarily careful, you are sure to have an accident. Between the four of us, we have had a good share of all types of accidents and my attempt today is to help you avoid them.

ANTICIPATION:
Anticipation is very important in driving. Besides learning to use the clutch, brake, accelerator and steering, this is the most important element of driving, rather more important than the others. You have to calculate in your mind and anticipate the following events.

1. When a car is slowing down you must anticipate somebody is going to open a door on either side to get out. So you should keep safe distance on whichever side you are trailing the car
2. When you are trailing a bus to overtake it from the wrong side you may expect somebody to get off the bus right in front of you, especially if it is slowing down
3. When you are trailing another vehicle, you may expect it to stop suddenly, so keep stoppable distance
4. If a bus has come to a halt you may expect a person to pop out in front of the bus to cross the road so you should slow down to a stoppable speed when overtaking the bus.
5. If you are going to pass a tri-junction or a cross road, you must expect some slow or fast moving vehicle to suddenly drive across in front of you. So be careful
6. When you are overtaking a vehicle, you may expect another vehicle to come from the opposite side in front of you to block your path, so be ready to slow down or brake
7. When turning left of right, keep safe distance as some drivers suddenly swerve to overtake other vehicles
8. When you are following a vehicle and you see another vehicle come from the opposite side. You estimate you may be able to overtake the vehicle in front of you and pass the oncoming vehicle. But at the last moment you find you have miscalculated. It is better to wait before trying to overtake
9. When passing schools and playgrounds, you must expect a child will suddenly come dashing in font of you
10. When passing cinema halls and other public functions places also you may expect somebody to suddenly to dash out to go to # 1, especially in India.
11. While driving you see a pile of loose sand or gravel lying or any liquid (not necessarily oil) on the road. You should slow your speed drastically as your tyres will skid.
12. When carrying a pillion rider, be sure the pillion is properly seated before moving forward.
13. When crossing tram tracks of railway tracks, cross the tracks as far as possible at a near right angle as other wise your vehicle will skid
14. Both sides of tarred roads have loose soil and the level sometimes goes 3 or 4 inches below the tarred road.
When again climbing on the road, you should climb at near right angle as otherwise the tyres will skid or wait for both to attain same level

All the above points are equally valid for 4-wheeler drivers also but there is a difference.
The two-wheeler driver will hurt himself besides the opposite party in all the above case but in most cases the four-wheeler driver will hurt the opposite party and will himself be unscathed.
So the above anticipation/precaution is especially important for two wheeler drivers.

My elder son has had accidents because of points 1 and 7.
I was traveling pillion with my younger son Jay when we became victims to point 4
During my driving days I fell victim to 1, 8, 11,13,14. I had been brought down by the tram tracks on Kolkata roads on three or four occasions. Fortunately, the government has now levelled the tracks with the roads. Now there should be fewer accidents in Kolkata because of 13.
A long time back a distant relative of mine had asked his sister to sit pillion behind him while he drove the scooter. Before his sister could mount properly he drove off leaving his sister standing. Luckily she had not attached herself to the scooter or there would have been a big accident.

Because all three of us usually drive at moderate speeds and probably God has been protective to us. we have been spared any major mishap.
My younger brother has had some major accidents because of lack of sleep.
This is a very serious cause, which I have kept for the last.
You should never drive when you are sleepy or have had more for the road than is good for you, for you will not realize it but may doze off in short spans, which could be fatal.
My brother, fortunately, rather our whole family is not into anything stronger than orange juice.
Two accidents he had when first time a Kolkata Corporation truck and second time a taxi hit him while overtaking him from behind.
Well, when another vehicle hits you from behind, only God can save you. He was lucky to be saved after some two weeks of hospitalisation in case 1 and one week in case 2.

When I started riding the two wheelers in Patna, I had read a book on driving.
I don't remember the name.
In the book,the author comments that while driving, you must think the other persons driving around you are madmen,your enemies, out to get you.
It is in your interest that you prevent them from getting you.
When you lie on the street, writhing in pain, or some unknown people are carrying you to the morgue, what does it matter who was to blame for the accident. If you were not to blame, your family is not going to get you back, or you are not going to be rewarded.
Your family will miss you for the rest of their lives.
Don't let that happen.

Radheshyam