(Bodacious) Tata trucks are the kings of the road
There are a few things you quickly adapt to when you start driving in India — drive on the left side of the road, lane markers are optional, honking to pass is not optional, and stop lights are few and far between.
We also started to build a hierarchy of who rules the road. This work-in-progress defines who has the right of way when cruising down single-lane roads, two way streets, and even divided highways. It’s roughly based on mass… though we think it might be better modeled by momentum (mass times velocity).
While on the road, you should fear anything that is higher on the list than you or you might regret it. Unlike in the US, all types of vehicles and pedestrian traffic are allowed on pretty much all types of roads. The lower you are on the list, the further you should yield to the left side of the road.
- Humans: Lowest on the totem pole, they should fear for their lives but seem equally comfortable crossing highways as they do local streets
- Humans carrying stuff (like sticks, sacks of fruit, large vases on the head): more mass, more potential for fatality
- Single animals: A stray cow, a monkey, or goat acts semi-irrationally and needs to be appropriated more space than people
- Bicycles: Faster moving and generally hauling some crap (possibly propane cannisters)
- People powered rickshaws
- Motorcyles/Scooters
- Autorickshaws/Tuk Tuks: Turns out, different regions have different types of rickshaws with different people capacity and engine powers. Sometimes our little rickshaws could pass.
- Tractors: Super slow and often overloaded with sticks or vegetables
- Cars
- Herds of animals
- Trucks: These are the kings of the road… and they flaunt their prowess with impressive horns that will blow your eardrum.
