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Topdriver Car and Bike driving handbook is a driving handbook published in India in 2016 by Naresh Raghvan. The book is the equivalent of a driver's education manual and the first of its kind in India. The book has two sections, one for cars and one for two-wheelers since the nuances of each type of vehicle are quite different. The book has attempted to cover all important topics required to be a good and safe driver on Indian roads.

Those who drive /have driven in India will agree that traffic is quite chaotic with no lane discipline and lack of driving ethics. The key reason according to Naresh is because there is no formal driver education system in India. Most people learn with the help of a friend or family member and once they gain motor controls of the vehicle they start driving. Drivers licenses testing is lax with ah recent study by Safelive foundation stating that in many cities as much as 50% of drivers obtained their license without even appearing for a driving test! A combination of corruption and ignorance are the reason for this lapse.

Unfortunately there is a high price one pays eventually for these short cuts- about 150,000 people die every year on India roads in accidents. One of the highest in the world. The government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the long awaited Motor Vehicle Amendment Act of 2016 which imposes stricter fines and outlines stringent rules of bring down the death rate to 50% over the next 5 years.

However, the author of Topdriver Car and Bike driving book argues that stricter policing is only one component of the bigger picture. He believes that the foundation of good driving in any society is driver education. Without training drivers on road safety and rules how can we expect the traffic situation to get better? According to Naresh Raghvan's Ideal Pyramid of Road safety there are 5 levels or tiers to improving roads safety in a state or country as shown below: /Users/Naresh/Downloads/Ideal Pyramid of road safety.png

Table of Contents Introduction Route to becoming a Top Driver Road signs (Common for car and bike) SECTION A: CAR DRIVING BOOK Chapter 1, About the car Chapter 2, Learning the basics - Brakes, Accelerator, Steering, Transmission Chapter 3, Safety in your car Chapter 4, Safety on the move Additional Trivia for cars Chapter 5, Lane discipline Chapter 6, Advanced driving tips Chapter 7, Highways and ring road driving Chapter 8, Dealing with peer pressure for young drivers. Chapter 9, Driving ethics & respecting other drivers. Chapter 10, Driving and alcohol Chapter 11, Defensive driving in a car Chapter 12, Driving to maximize mileage Chapter 13, Speeding vs rash driving Chapter 14, What to carry in your car Chapter 15, Maintenance of your vehicle Chapter 16, Map reading Chapter 17, What to do if you have a breakdown Chapter 18, Hiring & managing a chauffeur (driver) Chapter 19, Car shopping

SECTION B: TWO-WHEELER DRIVING BOOK Introduction Chapter 1, About a two-wheeler Chapter 2, Getting started- Clutch, Throttle, Handlebar, Brakes, and Gears Chapter 3, Familiarizing yourself with your bike Chapter 4, Safety on a two-wheeler Chapter 5, Lane discipline Chapter 6, On-the-road riding techniques Chapter 7, Highway driving on a bike Chapter 8, Avoiding accidents, defensive driving in a bike Chapter 9, Driving ethics, respecting other drivers. Chapter 10, Driving after drinking Chapter 11, Maximizing mileage in a bike Chapter 12, Riding gear Chapter 13, Maintenance of your bike

The book is quite exhaustive in its approach and delivery. There are about 200 images which help the readability. Readers have stated that they could read through the entire book in as little as a few hours.

There are many safety tips explored in book such as safe following distance, highway driving, braking/stopping distances, effects of alcohol on your reflexes, cornering styles, Defensive driving and so on which have practical approaches to ensuring a driver's safety on the roads.

There is a Facebook page devoted to the concepts of the book run by the same author: www.facebook.com/topdriverindia The book was officially launched in Hyderabad, India by the Telangana Asst Director General Police for Road safety & Railways, founder the NGO Youth Against Speed Mr. Mohd. Khaleequr Rahman and Mr. Amer Beg