Driving a Motorcycle in India at night is insane.

That sentence is in bold font for a reason. You see, you have to be bold to drive a motorcycle through India at night and probably stupid. Like I was.

I know this first hand. I just spent the last few hours driving my Royal Enfield motorcycle through the blackness of rural India.

There is a whole other set of rules for driving at night here.

The 6 Rules for Driving a Motorcycle in India at Night (pedestrians and livestock as well)

Rule #1: Always keep your hi-beam’s on no Matter What

As you drive through India at night you must never dim your lights, they have stay on full blast, always.

You may flash them from low to high a bunch of times at the driver coming towards you, but after you have finished flashing them, they must be put back to high right before you pass the other driver, essentially blinding them.

This includes: trucks, cars, rickshaws, farm equipment, and motorcycles driving through India at night.

If your vehicle has no lights, such as a bicycle or ox-drawn cart, don’t worry about it; you may just drive down the super dark roads where no one can see you, that’s cool.

Rule #2: You Must Drive Faster at Night

The sun was setting on me as I was driving my motorcycle through India at night, and the speed of the other traffic was increasing. Our second rule states that the darker it gets, the faster you must drive.

Night driving is reserved for those who are in a hurry. If you have to get somewhere in India really fast, at an extremely unsafe speed, then night is the perfect time.

Step on the gas or pull back the throttle, close your eyes, and just go for it.

Rule #3: When your driving a motorcycle through India at night you are non-existent

This one is no joke, in India the bigger vehicle has the right of way.

As I drove through the darkness I saw a blinding set of lights coming towards me, hi-beams on of course. It was driving superfast in the wrong lane right towards me. Guess what? I got the hell out of the way, it would have creamed me.

The exception to this rule is the farmers driving the ox-carts in the centre of the road at night, with no lights whatsoever. They are allowed to hold a steady course and remain an obstacle.

Rule #4: It is ok to Drive for Long Periods of Time on the Wrong Side of the Road

While driving at night, if you wish, you may drive on the wrong side of the road for as long as you’d like. This goes well with driving too fast and with your hi-beams on.

While on a motorcycle, since you are on the bottom of the vehicle food chain, you have to do whatever you can to get out of others’ paths. When a huge truck sees that single, dim, motorcycle headlamp, they expect you to get out of the way and believe me, you do.

About 3 minutes after it got dark I was almost taken out by a car driving head on towards me, I had to pull off the road and stop as the guy blew past me at break-neck speeds.

Rule #5: Cows must Sleep in the Street

During daylight in India, the cows like to walk around the street. So at night, it is only fitting that they sleep in the street as well.

Driving through a city tonight there was a sudden confusion in the flow of traffic. When I got to the scene of the crime, it turned out to be a family of cows huddled together in the centre of the street. Everyone was just going around them without a second glance.

I wonder if a man lay there, if he would get the same courtesy.

Rule #6: Pedestrians are Allowed to Cross the Street Without Looking Both Ways

At night, while on your motorcycle, you must be on constant alert and watch out for random men carelessly crossing the road.

This is especially common on the outskirts of any given city. Men seem to be wandering around these areas aimlessly, and like to walk to the other side of the street, looking the ground, while cars and trucks whiz past them.

These random men walking around never seem to be phased.

Driving a Motorcycle in India at Night was the Most Insane Thing I Have Ever Done

This article was written with a sense of humor in mind. But make no mistake; driving a motorcycle in India at night is a dangerous operation. I lasted about 2 hours until, while driving through a random city, I spotted a hotel and immediately pulled over.

When I got off the bike my hands were shaking. I am not easily shook.

I sit here now in what is actually the nicest room I have been in some time, in a town called Koppal writing down this experience. If you are an adrenaline junky with a death wish, then this may be the newest sport you’re looking for. Otherwise, I recommend sticking to driving during daylight hours.

Let me say though, I am so thankful I bought a sim card here and had my GPS, it’s literally a lifesaver.

You will never catch me driving my motorcycle in India at night ever again.

Have you ever driven through India and lived to tell about it? Do you have another place you recommend to stick to daylight hours? Leave a comment with the story below!

If you liked this little story of todays adventure on my Royal Enfield, then subscribe to get the newest stories to your email; there will be a new one very soon recapping this part of the journey from Goa to Hampi.

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