Wacky and Terrifying: A Normal Day of Driving in India

Kaylee Everhart

Updated Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 12:00 AM CDT

Driving in India is an experience like no other, blending chaos, skill, and a fair bit of luck. A video titled "It's just a normal day in India" has recently gone viral on Reddit, showcasing the extraordinary driving conditions in cities like Delhi and Bangalore. The video, which doesn't need to be sped up to induce anxiety, offers a glimpse into the everyday adventures faced by drivers and passengers alike.

One commenter shared their firsthand experience of riding in the front seat of a bus in Delhi and Bangalore. They recounted an incident where their bus got sideswiped, the mirror was knocked off, and the driver simply retrieved the mirror, yelled at the offending driver, and continued on their way without any fuss over insurance details. This nonchalant attitude towards what would typically be considered a major incident highlights the unique driving culture in India.

Another user humorously noted that to drive in India, one needs three essential things: a good horn, good brakes, and good luck. This sentiment resonates with many who have experienced the nerve-wracking traffic firsthand. One traveler admitted to keeping their eyes glued to their phone during taxi rides to avoid the terror of watching the chaotic traffic unfold around them.

The video has sparked a mix of reactions, from those finding humor in the madness to others feeling sheer terror. One commenter reminisced about an Indian colleague who vividly described the chaotic intersections years ago, only to see it perfectly depicted in the video after 25 years. Another frequent visitor to Bangalore shared that despite the numerous close calls during taxi rides, they never experienced a crash, emphasizing the extraordinary driving skills of local drivers.

Comparisons to video games like Frogger and Mario Kart abound, with users joking about the surreal and almost game-like driving conditions. One amusing anecdote involved a tuk-tuk driver navigating through oncoming trucks while casually chatting about his wife, turning a 30-minute ride into an unforgettable adventure.

The video even drew comparisons to driving habits of Indian immigrants in other countries, with one user humorously recounting a story of someone driving in the wrong direction on an interstate with hazards on because they missed their exit.

The video "It's just a normal day in India" offers a fascinating and entertaining look into the unique driving culture of India. Whether it's the skillful maneuvers, the nonchalant attitudes, or the sheer chaos, driving in India is an experience that leaves a lasting impression on anyone brave enough to venture onto its roads.

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View source: Reddit

Top Comments from Reddit

DroppedSoapSurvivor

You don't have to speed up the video. Regular speed provides enough anxiety

OozeNAahz

Went to Delhi and Bangalore for work once. Road in the front seat of the bus they drove us around in sitting beside the driver. Was damn entertaining. Second bus in our group got hit and the mirror was taken off the side. Coworker asked if the driver didn’t need to stop and get insurance info. Driver had no clue what he was talking about. Got out, grabbed mirror. Yelled at guy who hit him. Climbed back in and they were on their way.

weekendclimber

While in India I was told you need three things to be able to drive in India: good horn, good brakes, and good luck.

just-why_

That's not funny, that's terrifying!

Zacpod

I was in India for a week for work. I VERY quickly learned to keep my eyes on my phone while the taxi was taking me to/from the office. Absolutely terrifying to my western a**.

paultbangkok

I used to go to Bangalore for work and every time i got a taxi to the office it felt that we were going to crash at least 10 times. Despite some extremely close calls we never crashed and that was over at least a hundred journeys. The driving is extraordinary there.

FastWalkingShortGuy

I live in an area with a lot of pretty recent Indian immigrants. Super hard working people with a ton of drive and good education. But holy f***ing Christ, you get those folks on the road, and they're 99% of the time like, "I'm sorry, officer, I didn't know I couldn't do that." YOU WERE DRIVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON THE INTERSTATE WITH YOUR HAZARDS ON BECAUSE YOU MISSED YOUR EXIT, SURESH.

mrDerptAstic

Exactly how working with Indian contractors be like in IT

Kooguchie

It’s all fun and games until someone throws a shell

reddittheguy

Way back in the pre-youtube days when I was a fresh faced kid just out of college. An Indian colleague described to me in incredible detail how chaotic some intersections in India were. Funny how it took me almost 25 years to actually see a video depicting exactly what he described.

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