Long pending post!! I recently moved to US. Ok, not exactly recently. Its been around 6 months now. During this time I couldn't help but notice many differences. I am sure any person moving to this part of US would experience the same differences. Still, I thought I will write them down anyway. By differences, I mean just differences. India is better in some cases. US in some others.
I haven't been to many places in US. So, my observations are based on what I saw in the state of Washington. (Yes, Washington is a state. Washington D.C. is the capital. And yes, New York is not the capital of USA).
Because the differences are so many at so many levels in so many areas that I will post them one by one. This is the first post in the series "Alag Alag Amreeka". Today's post is about traffic and roads.
If the only difference you know is that India has left hand traffic while USA has right hand traffic, then let me add 10 to your list. More later... So, without further ado, here they are:
1. In India, traffic lights are simple. Green, Yellow, Red. Standing for Go, Go faster (damn... it's going to be red soon!), and stop respectively. In USA, there is solid red, blinking red and red arrow. Then there is Yellow - solid yellow, blinking yellow arrow and and a freaking non-blinking yellow arrow. Wait... also solid green and green arrow. Solid red has different rules for left turn and right turns. So is the case with solid green!
2. In India you make a move, you honk. Taking a turn - honk. Overtaking - honk. Passing by a lane - honk. Traffic light (color doesn't matter) - honk. Sneezing - honk. In USA, you honk means the other person has done something horrendous. Honk means abusing.
I remember one of my friends was trying out my bike - Bajaj Pulsar 220, for the first time. It was heavy and powerful. He got so nervous that he started honking looking at a pothole on his way!
3. In India, on a normal road you can find: Cycle, Rickshaw, Cars, Tractor, Truck, Bus, Jugaads, Scooters, Bikes, Thelas, Bullock Carts, Cows, Dogs, Donkeys etc. Unity in diversity. Scariest of them all - trucks. In USA, you find cars, buses, cycles, trucks and occasionally bikes. Scariest of them all - cycles.
4. In India you can drive at any speed but still you can't. Cars are not that powerful. In USA cars are mighty powerful, but you can't drive at any speed. Every damn road has speed limit.
5. In India, everyone thinks they own the road. In USA only some people think so because they actually, literally, own some roads!!
6. India has zebra crossing. USA has zebra crossing, horse crossing, ducks crossing, deer crossing, alien crossing...
7. USA has left only lanes and right only lanes. India has only lanes. Left or right is democracy.
8. In India, roads maintain lanes. If its a two or four or six lane road, it will remain two or four or six lanes. USA has, Lakhan roads (1, 2, ka 4. 4, 2 ka 1). Almost anywhere, inconsistently, number, usage, speed limits, almost anything can change.
9. In India, you always pay attention to road. You have to. In USA you always pay attention to both ends of the road as there are more road signs than people on the road.
10. On Indian highways, different people and vehicles can start their journey together, move together, can catch up and sync their positions, and reach the destination together. On American freeways, if you are separated, forget it. See you at the destination. God forbids if your vehicle breaks down or something bad happens, only 911 or roadside assistance or God can help you. But the people whom you got separated with, they just cannot come back and help you.
I haven't been to many places in US. So, my observations are based on what I saw in the state of Washington. (Yes, Washington is a state. Washington D.C. is the capital. And yes, New York is not the capital of USA).
Because the differences are so many at so many levels in so many areas that I will post them one by one. This is the first post in the series "Alag Alag Amreeka". Today's post is about traffic and roads.
If the only difference you know is that India has left hand traffic while USA has right hand traffic, then let me add 10 to your list. More later... So, without further ado, here they are:
1. In India, traffic lights are simple. Green, Yellow, Red. Standing for Go, Go faster (damn... it's going to be red soon!), and stop respectively. In USA, there is solid red, blinking red and red arrow. Then there is Yellow - solid yellow, blinking yellow arrow and and a freaking non-blinking yellow arrow. Wait... also solid green and green arrow. Solid red has different rules for left turn and right turns. So is the case with solid green!
2. In India you make a move, you honk. Taking a turn - honk. Overtaking - honk. Passing by a lane - honk. Traffic light (color doesn't matter) - honk. Sneezing - honk. In USA, you honk means the other person has done something horrendous. Honk means abusing.
I remember one of my friends was trying out my bike - Bajaj Pulsar 220, for the first time. It was heavy and powerful. He got so nervous that he started honking looking at a pothole on his way!
3. In India, on a normal road you can find: Cycle, Rickshaw, Cars, Tractor, Truck, Bus, Jugaads, Scooters, Bikes, Thelas, Bullock Carts, Cows, Dogs, Donkeys etc. Unity in diversity. Scariest of them all - trucks. In USA, you find cars, buses, cycles, trucks and occasionally bikes. Scariest of them all - cycles.
4. In India you can drive at any speed but still you can't. Cars are not that powerful. In USA cars are mighty powerful, but you can't drive at any speed. Every damn road has speed limit.
5. In India, everyone thinks they own the road. In USA only some people think so because they actually, literally, own some roads!!
6. India has zebra crossing. USA has zebra crossing, horse crossing, ducks crossing, deer crossing, alien crossing...
7. USA has left only lanes and right only lanes. India has only lanes. Left or right is democracy.
8. In India, roads maintain lanes. If its a two or four or six lane road, it will remain two or four or six lanes. USA has, Lakhan roads (1, 2, ka 4. 4, 2 ka 1). Almost anywhere, inconsistently, number, usage, speed limits, almost anything can change.
9. In India, you always pay attention to road. You have to. In USA you always pay attention to both ends of the road as there are more road signs than people on the road.
10. On Indian highways, different people and vehicles can start their journey together, move together, can catch up and sync their positions, and reach the destination together. On American freeways, if you are separated, forget it. See you at the destination. God forbids if your vehicle breaks down or something bad happens, only 911 or roadside assistance or God can help you. But the people whom you got separated with, they just cannot come back and help you.
It's awesome Abhishek..Never heard about these differences in vast frm anyone. And the written words createc curiosity to me what's going to be the next....Thanks for updating..keep writing. ..
ReplyDeleteSuperb.. Nice Observations APSC.. :)
ReplyDelete