American Suit in India: The Drivers Aren't Crazy

The Drivers Aren't Crazy

You've probably seen the YouTube videos of challenging intersections in India. The drivers don't observe the painted lines between lanes, if there are any. Cars weave themselves through traffic like a needle with thread. People walk directly into the fray almost as if they believe no cars are there. The air is filled with constant honking.

From a distance it looks frightening and possibly insane.  

But inside the vehicle, things begin to feel calmer.  You find yourself in the company of a polite, often soft-spoken man who might tell you about his family or the places he's visited. 

You realize that the cars aren't moving all that fast, which means that these maneuvers are happening at about 5 miles per hour.  The pedestrians and drivers are vigilant of each other; they are accustomed to close quarters.  And the honking is a polite safety signal that lets another driver know that you are entering his space – particularly his blindspot. It says, "I'm right here, don't hit me" and "I'm about to be remarkably close to the right side of your car, so you probably shouldn't move in this direction."The small open air car pictured below is a taxi referred to as Auto. No seatbelt, doors, or windows. At first frightening, now my preferred mode of commute. There always seems to be a one nearby and they squeeze past other cars in tight traffic. Better than Uber if you’re in a hurry (which, yes, they have here).

 I've been living and working in Bangalore, India -- practicing Transcendental Meditation, leading international teams, and eating with my hands. I'm Alex Salinsky and you can see more of an American Suit in India here.