How to Cross a Road in India

Crossing a road in India, where traffic is a maelstrom of trucks, buses, motorcycles and, of course, animals, takes skill, knowledge and a certain spiritual calmness that can usher you through the chaos. If you're not an expert in Indian road crossings, there are some things you should know.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Look in the right direction, which is first to the right, since Indian traffic drives on the left side of the road. After you look to your right to make sure no traffic is coming, look to the left just to make sure no one's driving the wrong direction on the road.
2. Step out into the road when you see a gap in the traffic that's closest to the sidewalk. Keep moving as you constantly look down the road to see where traffic is coming from so you can make further progress along the road.
3. Try to identify the lanes of traffic, which will be pretty informal, but stay aware at all times that the lanes are more optional than mandatory parts of road rules in India.
4. Stop in the middle of the road if you feel you can't make it in front of the next car or wave of traffic since standing in place, while definitely dangerous, is safer than trying to step in front of a truck driven by a driver that has no intention of stopping for you.
5. Get going again as soon as you can but don't rush it. Move across the road but also move up and down it to by yourself a few more precious seconds in front of the next oncoming car.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow any local Indian that you see trying to cross the road you're trying to get across since this way you can use the local's road crossing expertise.