Coming from an East European country I thought I've seen it all traveling through Europe where even Italy didn't bother me. Where I come from, road traffic is a fight. With hate and madness.
Then I went to Egypt. I've been picked up by a local friend on the Airport at night and I was shocked that once we came upon one of those north/south highways, the first thing he did was to turn off the lights! From then on he used them only to blink at the traffic coming towards us. Which made the whole situation even worse as it was pitch black outside in the desert. But everybody seems to be very chilled about it This day I learned: there is real madness on the roads out there but I'd be happy to witness (and survive it) all. Especially in India and certain other Asian countries where "driving" seems to be a different way of flowing with the rest but also somehow similar to a German Autobahn where you can flow with 200kmh and every small mistake may be the last one you witness.
I would never, ever drive in India. I have driven in Cambodia and Laos and there traffic was chaotic but pretty slow and you could get used to it. India is on a whole different level. Chaotic, fast and unpredictable. I wonder what the accident statistics are. When I was there I saw surprisingly few accidents.
I don't know the numbers, but anecdotally from the people I know, everyone seems to know multiple people who have died in traffic accidents. Plus you get the odd bus falling off a cliff every few months or so...
Then I went to Egypt. I've been picked up by a local friend on the Airport at night and I was shocked that once we came upon one of those north/south highways, the first thing he did was to turn off the lights! From then on he used them only to blink at the traffic coming towards us. Which made the whole situation even worse as it was pitch black outside in the desert. But everybody seems to be very chilled about it This day I learned: there is real madness on the roads out there but I'd be happy to witness (and survive it) all. Especially in India and certain other Asian countries where "driving" seems to be a different way of flowing with the rest but also somehow similar to a German Autobahn where you can flow with 200kmh and every small mistake may be the last one you witness.