Geometry lessons from traffic in India
My experiences driving on the Indian roads explained with an analogy between traffic and geometry
1. What is a mid-point?
When a motorcycle divides the width of the road into two halves such that it is equidistant from the divider and the edge of the road, the motorcycle is called a mid-point.
You will find vehicles (mostly 2 wheelers) being driven exactly in the center of the road. This is not intentional but probably because 2Ws have flexibility to maneuver into any lane based on the traffic ahead that keeps the driver always ready. Drivers of the cars behind them also need to have good judgment of space to the 2W’s right or left. It’s like the famous Chak de movie — ‘’Ye right ko lega, iski gaadi halki si right ko hain, nahin ye left ko lega kyunki market left ko hain’’.
This traffic type is very prevalent in Pune city.
2. What are Parallel lines?
Two or more long row of cars moving in the same direction (to the accuracy of smallest degree) perfectly aligned to the road. The longitudinal axes of the cars is then said to be parallel to the road edges.
This is the traffic that follows road lanes. One will wonder, this cannot be India but I am talking about Mumbai. Mumbai traffic seems to be more disciplined. May be people have slowly learnt to be patient here, there are exceptions of course.
Everything is in a straight line here — the city, the main roads, trains, the people (pretty straightforward :)).
3. What are intersecting lines?
Two or more long rows of cars moving in the same direction but not aligned to the edges of the road and thus crossing each other multiple times per minute are called intersecting lines.
This is concept has gained popularity in recent times and is the new paradigm shift brought by young drivers.
Just imagine — If rolls and rolls of yarn were to be tied to the rear end of every car in this scenario, it would have created a big threat to the textile industry.
Many cities show this kind of behaviour, however I think Delhi-NCR tops the list.
4. What is Pythagoras theorm?
Consider a vehicle moving the diagonal direction unlike the other vehicles on the road which are following traffic rules and traffic lights such that they are heading straight and then taking right. The sum of the square of the distances traveled by all other vehicles in the straight and then right direction is equal to the square of the distance traveled by the vehicle that is moving in the diagonal direction.
This diagonal distance is also known as “shortcut” and this pattern is seen in some of the smaller cities and towns.
This is also a method to construct new but kutcha roads without any investments.
5. What is an Offset?
Slow moving vehicles (especially trucks) that move on the rightmost lane of the national highways or expressways are said to be offset from their defined position which is the leftmost lane. Pune-Mumbai expressway is the best example of this concept, if you are interested to experience this personally keep a watch on the Khandala ghat while driving to Pune from Mumbai.
Similar situation also exists in the cities, but is not as severe as on the highways
6. What is a Mirror?
Vehicles driving in the correct direction but on the wrong side are said to be mirrored by the divider of the road. Most (and not every) of these vehicles make use of a very special illumination tool called headlights which gives them the permit to be on the other side of the road.
Earlier small towns, and in recent times all cities have started exhibiting this behaviour.
Earlier not so literates, and now even well qualified folks have started exercising this every day — “It’s cool” according to them
Note — These are my thoughts based on my personal experience, the intention is not to point to specifics here.
Drive Safe and Please Follow Traffic Rules!
