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"Have you ever played Frogger?"

That's exactly what my friend said to me immediately before we took our chances crossing a busy highway outside New Delhi. I've crossed streets all over the world, and India is definitely one of the most exciting. In fact, the only places that really compare are the Middle East and Turkey. Even in Latin America you have a pretty good chance that drivers will stop if you get caught in the middle of oncoming traffic. (yeah, I checked - oops)

So, how to cross the street (safely) in India...

The best advice is to avoid crossing major streets if you can, but obviously that's not always possible. Also look around for a pedestrian bridge or underpass - you'll make it to the other side without having to brave the traffic.

If you really do need to cross the street on foot, rule number one is definitely look BOTH ways. Not only do Indians drive on the left side of the road like the Brits, many of the roads have no painted lines and traffic could rally be coming from anywhere. It's also important to remember that the cars really might not stop, so forget about casually crossing the street and don't be afraid to break into a run if it comes to that!

Your "get out of jail free card" may in fact be a cow. Cows are sacred to Hindus, and roam freely in some areas. A cow in the road might as well be a brick wall as far as the cars and trucks are concerned.

If you're stuck crossing a busy street and can't avoid the traffic, it's critically important to be predictable. Cross the street at a constant speed without stopping or making sudden moves and the cars will be able to avoid you fairly easily. Speed up a lot or stop and the drivers will have a very hard time adjusting and avoiding you.

Much like everywhere else you will ever travel, if something looks dangerous it probably is. Watching the locals for a few minutes can be the best strategy in any situation while traveling. Odds are they know the best spots to cross and just what to do to avoid being struck by a vehicle. Even better, since it's India lots of people speak english, so you should be able to ask for help if it looks really rough.

Learn more about this author, Rick.
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