How to make Driving in Mumbai Easy

In a city of millions of residents, it is not possible to avoid traffic jams. In Mumbai, driving has become more painful than ever, thanks to the every growing population of migrants in the city. Traffic is just a part of the colossal mess on the roads, which are half-dug all the time. There are neon-free barricades and carefree drivers who do not hesitate to change lanes without signaling other drivers. However, it is an entirely unique experience to drive in Mumbai, provided you do it during non-peak hours. Avoid office hours, rent a car in Mumbai for a day if you are a tourist, and enjoy sight-seeing in the pleasant weather.

Avoid side lanes

No matter what time of the day you drive in Mumbai, avoid taking extreme left or right lanes. The Road Development Authority may have kept barricades on the left or right side of the roads without using any neon signs. Use the middle lane to drive safely.

Give way to BMC garbage dumpers and buses

The public buses and garbage dumping trucks are infamous for their rash driving. They would not use horn and headlights before overtaking any vehicle, so it is better to stay away from them and give way to them. Keep safe.

Drive with high beam

Although using high-beam headlights is not the right way of driving when you are in India, no one actually cares, except in a few cities like Chandigarh. Like everyone drives at high beam, you can also do so after dark because you never know when you will see the mini-trucks parked in the middle of the road without any signals.

On the expressways

Even on the expressways, you cannot expect regulated traffic, so keep your imaginations to the bare minimum. You should never cross the prescribed speed limit or 80 kilometers per hour, which you cannot do anyhow. It is common to find trucks running at 30 kilometers per hour of speed. Do not expect vehicles to signal you before overtaking, and they might overtake you from any direction. You must check if the other lane is free before shifting your car there since any vehicle may be present there.

At toll booths

The toll booths are notorious for handing over biscuits and toffees in return for change money. If you don’t want to feel cheated at the toll booths, you must carry exact change for the transactions.

Being a tourist

If you are a tourist in Mumbai and choose to drive on your own, you must make sure that you have enough sleep a night before. You must be prepared for your vacation with the bags well-packed, everything in the car the night before leaving, and bring along a few thousands to deal with any unforeseen circumstances.

Using indicators

Now there comes a time when you want to change your lane, but someone at the back of your car is constantly lingering without turning or overtaking. In that case, turn on the indicator lights; it will prompt that driver and he will immediately overtake you. Hence, you will have your way to take another lane.

Cheap car rentals are available in Mumbai these days, which you can use to drive around Mumbai to have a taste of everything in the city. Avoid raising your blood pressure by fretting over slow-moving vehicles; it will never help you in Mumbai traffic. It is true that driving in Mumbai is tough, but you have to be very patient while driving to make the most of your time in the city of dreams.