India, Sept. 1 -- By Ashvini Ranjan

As one drives towards Mysuru from Bengaluru, the toll booth becomes visible from at least a kilometre away. Without fail, I immediately instruct our driver, Narayanappa, to slow down.

Let me explain why.

There are about ten entry booths spread across the Highway, spanning a grand width of easily 250 feet from the left extreme to the right. A driver, without exception, operates on pure mathematical calculation. They instantly opt for the lane with the fewest vehicles.

But it doesn't stop there.

In a fraction of a second, the driver's brain becomes a supercomputer calculating variables - counting the proportion of slow moving trucks and buses versus the more agile cars, estimating acceleration rates ...