Walking on the wrong side of the road

If you're surprised at me blogging after a long time please read the post script before reading the blogpost.

The title explains it all (literally!). This is a traffic guideline that a fellow 'yatri' at the Tata Jagriti Yatra 2008 recommended me to follow. The guideline was :  Whenever you're on a road without a sidewalk or a platform, you should walk such that you are facing the vehicles approaching you. In fact, its also recommended by the Delhl Traffic Police for children walking to school as the first point (see the guideline here).

Ever since I heard about this guideline, I've been following it, except when I'm with a bunch of people who aren't walking on the wrong side (its just too hard to get many people to move while they're walking, talking and having fun).

The impact is quite measurable.  For one, the number of cars that honk around me are much less (this is something significant in a place like India where people just love to put their horns to test by using it all the time).  Also, I get to have some eye contact with the driver, so its easier to negotiate whether I will be moving to the side or they will be moving inward.

However, like all guidelines, this must be followed properly also.  You must be looking at the cars and roads ahead of you. Its ineffective if you're reading a book or browsing the Internet on your mobile phone or doing something where you aren't really looking at the vehicles coming opposite yourself.  Also make sure you're walking to the left of the people (right if you're in a country where the driving is on the right side of the road) walking in the same direction of vehicles. This way, they will also be temporarily freed from the honking as you're on the lookout for them. 

Do try it out for yourself when you're on the road and I'm sure you'll see the impact.

P.S : Finally, I'm taking the initiative to blog once a week on things that I find interesting.  Do nudge me if I don't post - feedback and comments are always appreciated.