Traffic in India vs. Belgium: a Brief Impression
After our visit to Kerala (India), I was surprised about the traffic there, in a positive way! That’s why I wrote this brief impression.
At first glance, it seems as if only one or two simple rules ensure that 1.4 billion people navigate traffic safely.
Rule 1: Drive on the left – usually
In India, they drive on the left side of the road, just like in the United Kingdom. But if there’s enough space, you can also drive on the right—as long as there’s no oncoming traffic.
Rule 2: Everyone claims their place, but carefully
Everyone demands their space in traffic, but in a calculated way. Of course, a bus has slightly more “rights” than a passenger car, which in turn has slightly more “rights” than a tuk-tuk, which stands just a bit “above” a moped. But essentially, everyone has equal rights and everyone uses the available space.
How to make a turn?
Turning, especially to the right (which means you first have to cross the oncoming lane), happens in a very simple way. You use your turn signal—or not. More importantly, you turn the nose of your vehicle slightly to the right. This signals to other traffic that you’re coming. Then you slowly push your nose into the traffic, and other road users slow down so you can cross.
Waiting until the lane is completely clear is pointless—that moment simply never comes due to the constantly heavy traffic.
Traffic as a fluid
Another important rule is that traffic behaves like a fluid. You have the left side of the road, your own direction of travel, and the opposite direction. Two traffic flows move alongside each other, but if one temporarily has less traffic, the other may take up more space. As soon as there are oncoming vehicles again, the flows shift and the space is redistributed.
Not just seeing, but also hearing
Since traffic constantly demands attention and as a driver you only have two eyes and a few mirrors, an additional sense is heavily used: your ears. Everyone honks at the slightest thing:
“I’m coming!” “Have you seen me?” “I’m going this way!”
Honking is not a sign of frustration, as in Europe, but a means of communication. Do you hear a horn behind you? That probably means someone wants to overtake. The sound will be different for a bus than for a moped, but the message is always clear.
The Traffic Situation in Belgium
When a driver approaches a side street and needs to turn left, it goes like this:
Double-check for cyclists on the bike path you’re crossing. Wait for sufficient space in the traffic coming from both left and right. Only cross when there’s enough room so that other traffic doesn’t have to slow down.
Because of this, elderly people or those less familiar with heavy traffic often wait longer for a suitable moment. An experienced driver will merge into traffic more quickly. Still, the unwritten rule remains that you shouldn’t hinder others. If someone has to brake for you, you’ll quickly get a light signal: “Hey, I was here first. You should have waited longer.”
Courtesy and letting someone go first are rather exceptions.
Differences between India and Belgium
- India: If the road is clear, why not use the entire roadway?
- Belgium: Even if there are no oncoming vehicles, we return to our own lane as quickly as possible, because it’s ‘not done’ to keep driving in the other lane.
- India: The official rules exist (as in Belgium), and you must take a driving test to get a license. The difference? Nobody cares about the rules. Everyone regulates themselves.
- Belgium: Rules are strictly followed and enforced.
- India: If you stop briefly and someone honks behind you, it doesn’t mean you need to hurry up or move aside. It just means: “I’m going to overtake you now.”
- Belgium: Honking is almost always seen as traffic aggression.
Traffic Lights
- India: Rare. During my trip, I barely saw a few.
- Belgium: Everywhere. We have traffic lights at almost every intersection.
and here a joke about Parking in India