Driving Experience

I am two months old new car driver. I own Wagon R VXI. I frequently takes my vehicle to Medchal, Hyderabad. It is highway. From my home, i have to cross moderate city traffic of 12 KMs and take highway NH 7 for around 25 KMs. My driving is OK. I need advise from the team that I want to travel from Hyderabad to Srisailam. My queries are as below.

1. I have full confident to drive but need advise of you guys experience....should I? I am planning to travel with my Wife and Parents.

2. If it is GHAT road, how to drive? I mean what would be the Gear position? Is it in First Gear? What is the driving advise I can get it?

3. If it is down, I understand, I have to drive in First gear? Is it so? Should I use handbreak and drive?

4. I want to drive from Srisailam to Mantralayam and Mantralayam to Hyderabad?

5. How the roads are?

Please advise and suggest.

Thanks in advance to provide your valuable help.

Cheers....Siva from Hyderabad

Do not worry, You can drive perfectly....go ahead with the same confidence...

• Always avoid night driving.  On this trip, as you are relatively new to driving, please don't undertake any night driving at all, for two reasons... (1) visibility & judgement of road/traffic are totally different than in the daylight; and (2) it's not safe with family, especially with ladies & chidren around, for obvious reason/s.

 

• Don't over exert yourself; take the required no. of breaks.  Also have light food (eat less) so as to avoid sleepiness, as highway driving at times is quite monotonious & may give rise to it.

 

• While driving uphill, do not burden the engine by switching on the AC.  Besides, if you keep it off, you will be able to drive in a gear higher than you could otherwise do (with AC on). You need not drive in 1st gear - can drive in 2nd or 3rd - depending upon the type of uphill. You may use handbrake when, for any reason, the car comes at a standstill so as to avoid/stop it from rolling back - release it immediately after accelarating/pulling the car in the 1st gear.

 

• While driving downhill, drive in 2nd or 3rd gear.  Don't drive in neutral or keep the clutch pressed.  Have full control of the car speed by applying the brakes & changing the gears whenever required.  Don't use handbrakes - it may prove dangerous.

 

• Needless to add, before you start the journey, check for all the spares & tools, and the engine oil, coolant, water level etc.

 

• Regarding the roads, sorry... I'm not aware - have never been there by roads.  You may enquire locally.  Or hope someone else is able to post some details here.

 

Wishing you happy & safe motoring.

Thanks Pankaj. Fortunately I am in Bhavnagar......on official trip.

Oh really, please give me your no. - I will call you straightway   or you can call me on nine four two six two two one four four nine.

Am in Hyderabad for past 18 months or so. You have managed driving in Hyderabad for two months right ? Believe me, you are a very decent driver. I have seen how bad the driving in B'lore is, and so in Delhi. But nothing comes close to the chaos in Hyderabad. So believe, and go ahead. But yes, would suggest you to drive in daylight, and wait for the rains to stop. Make sure you have the spare tyre, and make sure you know how to replace one if it comes to that, however I hope not. Check the tyre pressure just before before you cross city limits - say somewhere near Falaknuma. Would help if someone in the car can drive for a while to give you a break if you need one. If you feel sleepy, just stop, take a break. Avoid any involving conversations, especially in curves and ghat section, but does not mean you should over focus on the road, relax and enjoy the drive !! Have a nice trip and a nice darshan. PS: Sorry to be saying this, I wish you had a car with ABS, and preferably even Airbags, the very presence of those safety gadgets reduces your anxiety.

Thanks Pankaj. Just reached Hotel in Ahmedabad. tired and thanks for your advise.

Also I would sincerely extend thanks to Sumanth Sharma for his kind reply.

It is nice to have such community like instant helping hand and it gives me immense pleasure to help people if it is related.

Thanks you guys....& while reading itself, my tiredness gone...anyhow, I have catch morning flight to Delhi.......and I am expecting some more replies....

Thanks for your kind words - it's our pleasure. 

 

Please post here all about your experience on the car-trip (Srisailam-Mantralayam-Hyderabad) after you undertake it.  Wish you a happy & safe motoring.

 

Besides, I suggest if you too can participate on various threads/discussions as & when time permits - I can assure, you will definitely enjoy it.

 

By the way, you must have kept busy in Bhavnagar.  I would have loved to talk to you at least. Anyway