Rules of the road | Traffic Rules Every Driver should know in India
Traffic Rules Every Driver should know in India
2 SHARING THE ROAD
Drivers often forget that roads are not just for them alone. This can make things difficult on the road for pedestrians, cyclists, scooterists and motor cyclists who do not have solid protections around them. They are entitled to your care and consideration. Always keep a close watch on other road users. Children, for example, may do unexpected things. Elderly pedestrians may move more slowly than you expect or may not see or hear you until you are too close.
ALWAYS GIVE WAY TO PEDESTRIANS if there is danger to their safety. Take extra care if they are children or elderly people. There are some obvious places and times where you should take extra care like shopping centres, busy intersections, schools, parks and residential areas where children and others have a greater need of crossing the road. Also, in wet weather, people may hurry and take risks. At night remember that pedestrians may not always be aware how hard it can be for you to see them. Be careful when approaching parked cars or buses. It is difficult to see or anticipate people crossing from behind them. Slow down at pedestrian crossings or intersections, specially if you are turning.
You must give way to pedestrians on a pedestrian crossing. This means you must approach the crossing at a speed which will let you stop in time. Not all pedestrians look before they step onto a crossing. So watch out for anyone approaching and be ready to stop.
You must stop if a pedestrian is on a school crossing. This applies even if there is no crossing supervisor present. Stop at the stop line until all pedestrians are off the crossing.
NEVER INDULGE IN ZIG-ZAG DRIVING, specially on two wheelers. It is not only dangerous for you but is a danger for others also. Motorcycles have a high accelerating power. Don't misuse it. Don't overtake when it is not necessary. Remember, at higher speed the slightest collision can prove to be fatal.
DO NOT OVERTAKE another vehicle that has stopped at a pedestrian school crossing. That driver may have stopped, or may be stopping, for a pedestrian you cannot see.
YOU MUST GIVE WAY to pedestrians when you are entering or leaving private property such as a driveway. If you cannot see whether anyone is coming, sound your horn and then drive out very slowly.
CYCLISTS AND MOTORCYCLISTS have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of larger vehicles. When overtaking cyclists, leave at least one metre clearance. Don't try to share the lane with them. Cycle riders are entitled to ride two abreast. Also, when you are about to alight from your car, check for bicycle riders or scooterists to avoid opening your door in their path. Children on cycles can also be unpredictable. Take extra care of them.
Bicycles scooters and motorcycles are smaller than cars and therefore harder to see. A common cause of accidents is the failure of a right-turning driver to notice an oncoming motorcycle as motorcycle accelerate much faster than cars. What appears to be a safe gap in traffic may not be if there is an oncoming motorcycle or a scooter.
Bicycles can travel surprisingly fast. 30 km/h is not unusual. Drivers can easily underestimate their speed. Be careful not to cut them off when turning in front of them.
Most motorcycle crashes happen at intersections. Before turning, or entering an intersection, have one more look to make sure there's no motorcycle or bicycle there. Motorcyclists and cyclists can be hidden by trucks and buses which are overtaking them. Only move left or turn left from behind a large vehicle when you are sure the road is clear.
LOOK OUT FOR large, heavy, turning vehicles. When such a vehicle is turning, you must not pass on the left or right of the vehicle. If your vehicle comes between a large turning vehicle and the kerb, there is a likelihood of your vehicle getting crushed. Remember, long vehicles may use more than one lane when negociating turns.