On Driving in the Philippines

I am not a pessimist but I am almost certain this will not work as far as Philippine drivers are concerned.

Yesterday, the Vatican issued TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR DRIVERS in the hope of correcting what was termed a "host of ills" associated with driving. Uh-huh. I assume they have not driven here in Manila, and they have little idea what driving ills we have here. Filipino drivers are one of the most, if not, the most inconsiderate drivers in the planet!

Let's do some logical reasoning here: The Philippines is proud to be called the only Catholic country in Asia. When the Catholic bosses in the Vatican issues commandments, this will make a significant difference here because erring Catholic drivers will now correct their rotten driving habits. True? FALSE! What can be a greater example of the irony in this logic than witnessing Catholic drivers in a shouting match as they try to race exiting from the Church's parking lot after attending Sunday Mass?

When it comes to interacting with Metro Manila drivers, there is no such thing as logical reasoning or being Catholic. There is just the need to get all the road space you can, drive your vehicle to kingdom come, and no care at all with other drivers. Everyone is considered an enemy or a competitor. It is a daily survival of the fittest jungle in here!

I am sure you have witnessed these:

Both jeepney and bus drivers stop to board and unload passengers in the middle of the road.

Both public and private motorists here blatantly ignore the signs NO PARKING, NO LEFT TURN, NO U-TURN, DO NOT ENTER, NO SWERVING.

Almost all drivers here do not slow down in intersections. They always feel as if they're driving in some kind of illusionary expressway.

The rudest and most savage drivers here are #1- Jeepney drivers, #2- Bus Drivers, #3- Tricycle and Pedicab Drivers, #4- Taxi Drivers, and #5- Motorcycle Drivers. This is my personal ranking. Feel free to disagree.

This traffic sign is the most misunderstood and the most ignored here. This sign is posted in minor busy street intersections and it means a FULL STOP. In other countries, I have witnessed how drivers will slow down upon seeing this sign, even during late hours at night when there are less vehicles on the road. Here, this sign is brushed aside. You will even wonder why traffic enforcers place it in street corners when, clearly, NO ONE pays any heed to it at all. The red (STOP) and yellow (SLOW DOWN) traffic lights suffer the same fate, especially during unholy hours, and during storms when there is no policeman around.

Metro Manila drivers' minds wallow in opposite interpretations --- when they see the yellow traffic light (SLOW DOWN) flashing, they press on the gas and accelerate more to beat the red stoplight. When they see someone driving in front of them signalling to change to their lanes, they speed up (?!?) so as to prevent that driver from making that move. Give and take mindset? No way! For them, it is always, TAKE! TAKE! It almost feels like they own the roads they drive in, and they are too greedy and selfish to let you have even a small share in it.



It is not therefore surprising to see why there is a rising trend in the number of deaths due to traffic accidents over the years. The graph above is even too modest in its estimations. In 2005, there was a total of 11,425 traffic accidents nationwide, and that figure definitely exceeds the limits of the said graph. In 2006, it was even higher. This year, are you expecting anything better??



Errors in judgment, overspeeding, bad overtaking, and mechanical problems account for the main causes why traffic accidents happen here. If you ignore traffic rules and traffic signs, will your driving judgment be any better? Also, how about that addiction for speed? We are no Formula 1 racers, why do we always have to beat the red light?

"Naghahanap-buhay lamang po kami," [We are trying to make a living.]is the common excuse of bus and jeepney drivers when you ask them why they are so rude in the road. What a poor excuse if you consider their counterparts in other parts of the world who can both earn a living and practice courtesy in the road.

How about the police and the traffic enforcers? Are they not doing anything to enforce traffic rules? Well, there's a record of apprehensions here. But looking at the record of frequent types of apprehensions, you see that they might be missing the point. Compare the type of apprehensions with the cause of traffic accident deaths above, and you will see what I mean. They are not addressing the real causes of the problem. Of course, the streetsmart among us will comment that said apprehensions are merely excuses to get "kotong" [illegal bribes] money from errant drivers, and they might be speaking the truth. Arrrgh! What a deep problem this is!

So, will these TEN COMMANDMENTS help, considering most of these drivers are Catholic?

1. You shall not kill.

2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.

3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.

4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.

5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.

6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.

7. Support the families of accident victims.

8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.

9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.

10. Feel responsible toward others.

Like the STOP sign, these will all be sadly ignored.