Busting some common myths about Indian traffic rules
Road accidents on Indian roads are a pretty common sight, with India having among the highest occurrence rates of road accidents worldwide. According to a report by the Indian Road Congress, one accident occurs every four minutes in India. All of this can be easily avoided if proper traffic rules are followed.
However, Indian natives are steeped in myths about the Indian traffic rules that factor into such road accidents. Let's look at some of the myths surrounding traffic signs and rules in India.
• Traffic lights are turned off during the night.
Traffic lights operate all day (24*7), all year round. Even when there is no traffic police stationed at an intersection, traffic lights are placed, and drivers must follow the directions. You must take it seriously as it reduces the risk of accidents.
• It is okay to reverse drive on a one-way road.
People don't often understand the concept of a one-way road and drive in the opposite direction of the normal traffic flow. To be clear, it is a punishable offense and attracts a hefty fine. You should always avoid reverse driving on one-way roads to avoid fatal accidents.
• Vehicles can be overtaken on their left side.
Did you know you can only overtake a vehicle on lanes that have broken lines and not on road lanes with straight, unbroken lines? Moreover, you should do it from the right side when overtaking a vehicle. You should also use your vehicle's indicator to indicate that you are about to overtake.
• Any free space is a parking space.
Indians are particularly known to be nonchalant about their surroundings. It goes as far as parking their cars in any free space they find available, especially around a "No Parking" sign. You should understand that this can cause congestion and obstruction in front of places such as hospitals or schools.
• Not wearing a seat belt is fine.
Many people don't bother wearing the car’s seat belt while driving a car. The ultimate purpose of seat belts is to provide passengers safety when an accident occurs. Wearing a seat belt can reduce the chances of fatal, life-threatening injuries by 50%.
• High-beam light can be used anytime.
You shouldn't use high beam lights anytime you want as they may blind any vehicle coming from the opposite direction and cause an accident. You should also be mindful of other vehicles when driving.
• Being drunk or using a mobile phone while driving
It is a no-brainer to say that being drunk or using a mobile phone while driving is dangerous to the driver and other drivers around him. Many rash driving and fatal car accident cases have shared a common cause of either drunk driving or using a mobile phone while driving.
Conclusion
Be careful and drive safely. Following the Traffic Rules is as essential as knowing the appropriate signboards on the roadside. It is the best & easy way to avoid impending road accidents. Also, being safe on the economic side after the accident is also wise. Hence, always be sure to get car insurance from a reliable company with high clearing rates and a possible insured amount.
Disclaimer: The content provided is for education and informational purpose only, none of the information contained in our blog amounts to any form of opinion or advice. Please go through policy related documents carefully or consult an expert before making any insurance-related decisions.