ABOUT 30 years ago, when Thailand was going through the same sort of rapid growth into middle modernity that India is passing through today, I noted an almost wild phenomenon of normally placid Thais chasing each other on the road and then begging a fight at the first red light or convenient stopping point.
Our driver would leave us gasping as he sought to pass an offending neighbouring car as a huge truck charged down the opposite lane. We often gave thanks for being alive.
This past month driving deep into Uttar Pradesh, I felt frightened for the first time in a car since those days a generation ago in the Thai kingdom.
Large trucks cut us off at 100km/h, sending us screeching into the gravelled roadside, our small car having no chance of survival if the drivers cleverness didnt exceed his risk-willingness.
The problem is that the infrastructure hasnt kept pace with the economic growth; there are millions of new drivers with fast cars on old roads.
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