Driving Manual

Driving Manual
Better living series
By Rajeev Nanda
(rajeev.nanda@indiatimes.com)
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This handbook is meant for people who fall in one of more of the following categories:
  • Who believe that they can bring in change
  • Who are confident, patient and courageous enough to take ownership of a solution to the problem they see around themselves
  • Who will not trade their principles for short-time comforts
  • Who know that if we are not part of the solution then we are part of the problem
  • Who believe that if we do not actively participate in creating the future we want, we lose our right to complain about the future we get
 Driving is a Privilege not a right  Laws and Rules of the Road
Traffic Control at Intersections Pedestrian Signals
Traffic Signs Speed limits
Use of Lanes Turns
Parking Signals for Drivers and Bicyclists
Safe Driving Practices Horn, Headlights, and Emergency Signals
Safety Belts Merging, Passing, and Entering Traffic
Sharing the Road with Other Vehicles Emergency Vehicles
Slow Moving Vehicles Animal-drawn Vehicles
Motorcycles & Scooters Bicycles
Pedestrians Mobility and Gridlock
Accident Avoidance Handling Emergencies
Handling Equipment Problems Protecting Yourself in Accidents
Drunk Driving Responsibilities of Pedestrians

If you happen to be one of those people who are my target audience then read on and I can promise that we'll create a better future for our kids and ourselves. For all others, I would recommend that they pass this booklet on to someone else and not waste time reading it, as anyway you will not care to make any difference.

Why I wrote this handbook?

The most common sentence I have heard in India is 'Who cares?' Whether it is about careless driving, crime, unethical behavior, lack of manners or whatever; it seems that no one cares. Well, I DO because I always ask myself - The future I leave for my kids, will it be a blessing or a curse? And this is not just in terms of money or education but more importantly a better life style, a better city and a country that they'll be proud of. Citizens of a country play a very important role in creating and maintaining the country and we all need to actively participate before the legislation moves in. In developed countries the lawmakers have created such laws that if people do not behave themselves there are economic repercussions. If you are a bad driver, your car insurance premium will be more; if you are found littering the road you'll have to pay a fine of $1000!!! I would rather improve myself by self-discipline rather than having to abide by the politicians' whims and fancies.

What can you do to bring about the change? Take time to understand and follow a better way of life. Promote it wherever possible. Pass this booklet (and the others that I'll write) along to as many people as you know and help me translate it to as many Indian languages as possible so that people who do not read English will be able to take part in this grassroots moment.

So, next time if someone tells you 'Who cares?' you can proudly proclaim - I DO and do not hesitate to speak your mind. Sooner or later enough of us will care and participate in bringing in the change in our lives. One day the world will watch and say - India in the most 'civilized' country in the world in spite of the fact that there are very few lifestyle-policing laws in the country.

DISCLAIMER

When using this handbook, please remember that it is not a book of rules for the road. It can be used as a summary of the laws and regulations and not the complete text of the prevailing traffic laws. Keep in mind that new laws get introduced every so often and it is your responsibility to be aware of them and abide by them.
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