I HAD to drive to Delhi a morning after a bad storm accompanied by high winds and rain hit the Chandigarh area. Driving in such conditions was bound to be hazardous.

Many branches, mainly of kikar, and sometimes whole trees were lying across the highway.

The kikar tree is known for its long, sharp thorns. In a desert, where kikar may be the only greenery, even a camel approaches it with extreme caution.

The same kikar thorn can play havoc with your tyres. I drove slowly and cautiously, dodging and slaloming my way to Ambala. A Maruti 800 overtook me at great speed. The driver paid no attention to the vastly changed road conditions. I overtook him a few kilometres down the road. He was changing tyres. I wonder if he learnt a lesson. By the time I reached Ambala I saw two more motorists changing tyres. I was lucky I did not get a puncture. I did not have to wrestle with a tyre change.

I am loathe to change tyres. It is the dirtiest filthiest part of your car. You can find mud, slush and every manner of excreta on your tyre and the worst part is you have to grab it with both hands. Ugh!

If you are a fusspot like I am, a pair of surgical gloves will do nicely. Sprinkle some talcum powder in and on the gloves, roll them up and put them next to the spare wheel. The talc makes sure the latex won’t stick and it also smells nice.

Imagine having sweet-smelling hands even after completing a dirty task!

People posed another danger on the road. With tons of firewood littered across the road, people from the nearby villages were gathering firewood. The eucalyptus wood makes for firewood and the kikar branches, fresh and tender, are excellent for brushing teeth (datun) as well as for firewood. These folk pay no attention to traffic and pose a tremendous danger. Old ladies with huge bundles of sticks on their heads may suddenly start to cross the road. Children think it is play time in the middle of the road. They are so caught up in their games that they are completely oblivious to the vehicles whizzing by. It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure the safety of this horde.

The Ambala flyover has been complete for some time. The entry road from Chandigarh to Ambala is a few kilometres long. Then you reach a junction and the divided highway starts. Another danger on a divided highways is traffic coming towards you at high speeds from the wrong direction. A head-on collision could be disastrous. Keep your headlights on, on low beam. In these dusty, hazy conditions, it is important to be able to see and perhaps more important to be seen. In some cars, like the Volvo, headlights stay on all the time. The minute you turn on the ignition key, the headlights come on.

The driver only has to decide whether to drive on high beam or on low beam. This has proved very effective in making the roads safer.

Yet another danger is creeping up on us. In the days gone by, the days of the Amby and Fiat, the cars shook, rattled and rolled down potholed roads. This restricted speed. The NH 1 today is a super highway compared with roads of another era. The cars of today are like rockets and most cars can do 160 kmph with effortless ease. With the air conditioner on, loud music on the stereo, and the seat belt holding you firmly, you are cocooned in your car. You don’t realise how fast you are travelling. It breeds a false sense of confidence. The legal limit on the NH 1 is 90 kmph. At this speed, reaction time is about 18 metres. The actual distance you cover before you stop completely is 40 metres i.e. you need 58 metres or 14 car lengths to came to a complete stop. You should be prepared to stop completely on the highway at all times even while travelling at high speeds.

Happy motoring !