Bus Drivers

[Ed Hackenbruch]

I watched IRT Deadliest Roads the other night and realized that to really be able to call yourself a bus driver you need to go to India and drive buses there.

[Busted Knuckle]

I saw that too! And ya know what? SCREW THAT! Those ain't bus drivers, those are suicide bombers in training!
  BK 

[FloridaCliff]

What is IRT and what network?

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Ice Road Truckers on the History channel on Sunday nights.

[cody]

Ice Road Truckers, I've seen the show but not sure which channel,  I think this is going to be a spin off ( ) from the original series.

[Jriddle]

I saw it too and have to say I didn't see anything I would call good driving on the natives part. I quite sure the guy that left after one day was the most sane.

John

[Ed Hackenbruch]

On again right now on the west coast. More repeat showings at 11pm tonite, Friday at 8 pm and Sat. at 12 am. All times west coast. Channel 269 on directv.  Sunday night will be the next new episode.

[Iceni John]

Ah, wonderful!

I've twice been to India and Nepal, and that program is a reasonably accurate depiction of the roads there.   One of the IRT drivers was complaining that the locals don't have any driving skills  -  I think the Indian drivers have way more skill, albeit with a fatalism that most westerners won't understand, than most drivers in "civilized" countries.   Whether they have any common sense is another matter!   It's best to think of journeys in the same mindset as driving bumper cars at the fair:  most of the time you avoid others, but sometimes you don't.   Just don't hit a cow, or you're in deep doodoo (literally and otherwise).

On my second trip there I rode my bicycle across India and up to Darjeeling, then across the terai to Katmandu and Pokhara.   Now that really is living life on the edge!   Bicyclist are way down the food chain on Indian roads, but I felt safer than being inside a bus or truck because I had some control over my destiny, unlike being a passenger in some opium-dazed driver's juggernaut.   I also felt safer (and cooler) riding on the roof of buses and trucks whenever possible  -  you can see all around, and jump off if disaster is imminent.   However, I would much prefer riding those roads on a bicycle than being in/on a bus or truck.

My sister is in India right now traveling around on local buses and trains, so this program is a good way to remind myself what she is up to.   At least she is not in the Himalaya!

John

[Van]

Had to laugh when the one driver had to manually shift a trans using the clutch after being to use to an auto shift , good entertainment overall 

[RoyJ]

I think this is going to be a spin off ( ) from the original series.

What? You didn't know ice roads are all over India?    Must have a lot of freezer grids over there...

[MikeH]

For those of you that can't watch it on the tele, here is the link to the videos of the shows. I haven't watched it yet, but I saw the trailer and it looks like it will be a pretty cool show.

IRT  Deadliest Roads

Mike

[Runcutter]

It's up on Hulu now.  I have enough trouble driving around Dallas and watching the idiots switch lanes to get one car ahead, run yellow (and red) lights, stop on the railroad tracks, etc.  A few months ago, I had to take a cab to the airport.  The driver had just come back from a visit home to Pakistan, and he was telling me about how they drive there.  He was a good driver here, so I kind of shrugged it off.  Turns out, he understated the matter.

Free Fall Freeway, indeed.

  http://www.history.com/shows/irt-deadliest-roads/videos/irt-deadliest-roads-freefall-freeway#irt-deadliest-roads-freefall-freeway 

Arthur