Mumbai (including peripherals) is probably the only place where driving is no more a pleasure but a pain. Traffic is one thing; but the pain is more caused by half dug roads, barricades without neons; and non-observant of lane driving. Here are some serious tips apart from the one issued by the government.
1) If you are driving early morning or late night, do not drive on the first lane. The Road Development Authority has kept construction barricades either to your right or left corners across any out-of-city route you take without glow signs. Always take the middle lane to be safe.
2) Respect the BMC garbage dumpers; they come overtaking without headlights and horn. Give way.
3) BMC casually parks its dumpers in the middle of the road, drive in high beam (I know some won’t agree) like everybody else to avoid any mishap.
4) How much ever tempted you are to throttle your engine on Palm Beach road, do not; you never know where the morning joggers are running and transport vehicles cross roads.
5) Road signs on expressway say do not cross 80kmph, respect that. Even if you don’t trucks overtaking each other at 20kmph will ensure that. Do not try stunts because you can’t see what lies ahead.
6) On expressway, do not think that people will signal you to overtake from right; they don’t. So check your left before switching lanes to left as Innova drivers are known for their lack of sense of vehicle length and ability.
7) Always carry change to pay toll. Or else you will be handed over toffees and biscuits. That’s cheating.
8) If you are driving solo, make sure you have had enough sleep the previous night; packed your bags, enough cash to for any technical problems and a set of clothes, just in case.
9) You want to move into the next lane but you guess the guy behind is too close for you to turn, and isn’t overtaking you either, don’t worry. Just switch your indicator on. The moment you do that, the guy behind will speed up and won’t let you turn. Try, it works in Mumbai. Once he is gone you are free to turn.
10) Do not fret over slow moving vehicles in front; some just don’t budge so control your emotions as it will only raise your blood pressure, leading to heart aches. (This was actually said by a doctor)