The one near the Secunderabad railway station. That would have been my spontaneous response if you asked me about crazy roundabouts. Not anymore. My answer is Arc de Triomphe.There is no need to look shocked. I am well aware about the Indian driving etiquettes. At the same time, you should have been with me in the car last week to have the first hand experience of French driving etiquettes and also the craziness happening around the mother of all roundabouts in this part of the world.
This gargantuan roundabout has 12 streets emanating it like rays. It can hold up to 5 lines of vehicles. Now, imagine the confusion it can create. Add dollops of French impatience. Do you get the idea? My friend, who was driving the car, stepped on the pedal as soon as a rudimentary gap emerged between two cars circling the roundabout. Voila! Our car was in the middle lane in an instant. My friend did not even flinch while stepping on the gap. Nor did my friend halt the ongoing conversation. All of it happened in microseconds and I didn't get a chance to shut my eyes fearing a crash.
Getting out of the roundabout was also adventurous. To make a long story short, I was pressing my foot hard on the floor. If you think my friend was bad, then it is the same case with other drivers too. I have read about the madness happening in this roundabout. On that day, I experienced it. For all those who complain about our driving etiquettes, I have only one question. "Have you been to the Arc de Triomphe roundabout?"
Tags: Musings,Roundabout
no, never been to the Arc!
ReplyDeleteinteresting experience this has been for you
@Sujatha - It was a scary experience for me. :) I have visited the Arc on different occasions. This was my first experience in a car.
ReplyDeletewow.. i wish i was there in the car ;)
ReplyDeletenice experience ;)
@Madhulika - I will gladly trade places with you if I am in a situation like this in the future. :)
ReplyDeleteI closed my eyes while reading your description of navigating the Arc !
ReplyDelete@ThatAndThisInMumbai - Thank you very much. That is one of the nicest thing to say about my post.
ReplyDeletelol. should check it one day!
ReplyDelete@Joshi - :) Yes, you should and click some pictures too.
ReplyDeletei saw it by foot and loved it! had no idea it was so bad by car
ReplyDelete@ConfusedYuppie - On foot, it is a different experience. You don't really experience the madness. :)
ReplyDeleteIn non peak hours, the traffic here is a breeze. When the jam occurs, I have seen cars going on the pavements too!! Never thought that would occur in places other than India. But this was some 8 years ago.
ReplyDelete@Radha - If something has changed in the 8 years, it might be the lowering in the levels of patience. I'm pretty sure this happens even now although I have not witnessed it myself.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the few roundabout where cars coming in have priority on cars already in... you have to fight, no choice !
ReplyDeleteMy personal technic is to care only about what's going on in front of me... hoping others behind me will do the same ! ^^
@Mael - It is very dangerous roundabout.
ReplyDelete