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Bhutanese Drivers


A Professor in India (one of my Professors) remarked, “I trust your way of driving, but I don’t trust the driver coming from another direction”, when he was given a lift by one of his friends. Over time, I started to realize that his “16” word has more meaning than I imagined and condenses everything.
It is always scary to drive in Bhutan’s never ending snake winding narrow roads accelerated by the Bhutanese “style” of driving. We (Bhutanese) lake sensibility of driving and respect for another driver. Disrespect and mutual understanding between the drivers may be the rationale for increasing number of accidents in the country.
Source:  http://www.movetransport.com
Honking has become the part of Bhutanese drivers. Honking is imperative, but making use of it in right time and place is more important. It is disheartening to see people honking for everything, right from teasing those people walking to embarrassing another driver, instead of honking in turnings to warn another driver coming from opposite direction. This situation may not improve in Bhutan. Once (2008), a tourist remarked that, his driver was making use of honk in wrong time and place. Probably he may have referred to the similar quality of the driver.
Another embarrassing quality of Bhutanese drivers is driving in high beam at night. It is acceptable to use high beam while driving on highways provided there is no cars in-front or coming from opposite direction. Drivers in Bhutan do not respect pedestrian and never gives way to them. Last month, as I was driving by memorial chorten, I spotted a group of people waiting (by ZEBRA cross) to cross the road. I stopped my car and signaled them to cross the road. That is when, a brand new “Land Cruiser” honked and overtook me nearly throwing the pedestrian who were crossing the road.
Even if we don’t care our lives, let us care the life of another driver, who may be going to attend his/her parents birth day or returning after buying present for his/her child a surprise birthday gift. Let us not spoil somebody’s happiness.

Comments

Anu said…
I don't agree with your professor...Bhutan drivers are much much better compared to drivers in India...
May 16, 2011 at 8:19 PM
Unknown said…
Hi Anu,
Thank you for dropping by. I agree with you here. But my Professor's remark was in India not in Bhutan.
It would be un-fare for me to compare India and Bhutan.
India is a great country with huge population, which is a driving force to un-controlled situation of driving habits. Where as Bhutan is a small country with only about 0.07% of India's population. It is way easier to convey messages and create awareness to drivers in Bhutan.
May 16, 2011 at 8:41 PM
jamyang said…
Thanks for your post bro! Wonderful, meaningful and worth-full articles you have posted here.

I have been to Thailand for almost 2 years now and i realized that they don't use horn. If there is horn..then every people try to look at that car and see what is wrong with his car or what is wrong in and around his car. I also drive in Thailand and i feel insecure to horn even though when i am in need to do sometimes.....so our Bhutanese people must lean the ethics.

@ Anu, I don't horning in souther india. But in northern India, horning is same like kids playing their toy. we got to learn maything..we can't blame huge population...Bangkok, Thailand too have millions of people living here but they are not.
May 17, 2011 at 10:39 AM
Unknown said…
You are right Jamyang. People in developed countries and in Thailand they don't honk. Honking is a rare phenomenon where the honking cars become the center of attention.
One should use honk where necessary and not wherever one feels to honk.
Thank you Jamyang for visiting my blog.
May 17, 2011 at 10:49 AM
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