WHAT ITS LIKE DRIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES

Let me explain driving in the Philippines for the uninitiated:

And a precursor, I have 30yrs of driving experience, some of you have more, I have over 1 million miles of driving during that time, I have ridden bikes at over 280kph and driven cars at similar speeds.

So I arrive here, I think I can do anything. A month after we arrive, I purchased a van, something practical, one our first trip to the province, a 600 km drive to Legaspi City and Tobaco, (in Australia a 600km drive is a picnic, you can do it in 5-6 hrs) after we got off of SLEX in Calamba, it was grid lock, one lane road, middle of the night and driving around a truck takes really big Gonads, but I can do it, I can do anything, I wind up the turbo pull out and have a go, its only a truck I think to myself. All of a sudden, there is a jeepney driving in the other direction at 60kph with no lights. Oh sh*t, I pull back at the last second. Now to explain the frustration, trucks here drive everywhere at 30kph, have 3 times to much load and don't give way to anyone. So now you start driving with your high beams on everywhere you go, as you don't mind upsetting other drivers, your safety is paramount and that of your lovely asawa sitting next to you.

So you get out of the built up area that seems to go on for ever, open road at last (Did I mention that other than SLEX and a few other remote roads, I have not seen a straight piece of road anywhere in the Philippines that is longer than 200-300 meters before you hit a corner. I think all of the surveyors were drunk at the time), now instead of trucks every 100 mtrs, you have trucks, buses, motorcycles, jeepneys and dogs on the road, not to mention the odd person walking down the side of the road in the middle of the night. You try to go faster than 60kph, but its difficult, your guts say go faster but your brains say go slower, you get a break in on coming traffic, (there are very few 2 lane roads here, even major highways only have one lane in each direction) you wind it up, and you pray there is not some truck broken down in the middle of the road, or parked in the middle of the road on a blind corner, you are just about to pass when a bright flash of light hits you from behind, and a horn so loud you think the Lord is coming back again, as you look sideways a very large, very fast bus flies past you. And you think to yourself "But for the grace of God there go I" alright the road is still clear, check your rear vision mirror and do it again, just to make sure, then pass the truck or trucks as the case may be.

Now as on the back of any good shampoo bottle that wants you to use more than you need, repeat this procedure, oh say 100 times during the next 12 hrs of driving. If you make it to the other end of your trip and you are still alive, get out of the car and kiss the ground and Praise God that he still loves you.

As you get more experience driving, I.e your gonads get bigger than your head, you figure out that staying on the tail of fast buses is a good idea, at least for the most part, use your brains, as most bus drivers have grown gonads where their brains used to be. You figure out how to play safe and still be a daredevil whilst driving, you know when you are trusted driving, as your asawa will fall asleep when your at the wheel, at this point you have her complete trust that she will wake up again.

Just remember when driving here, almost no-one cares about anyone but themselves whilst driving. Practice Defensive driving always, and carry a big gun if you can find one, watch out for buses as they will not be watching out for you. Get a really loud horn, and really bright lights, adorn your car like a jeepney, no-one will care its normal here. If your driving through an area at night that could have NPA and you get a puncture keep driving, don't stop your life may depend on it. Only stop at a gas station or in a town with lights, you may loose a tire, but you will keep your life. If you don't already know how to drive fast on dirt roads practice it, I have been pushed off the road at 80 - 100kph by buses and when you hit the shoulder, if there is one, at that speed if you don't know what you are doing you could lose it and roll.

This is not like driving in the US or Australia or any other country, As Colin has said, the roads here are really bad, but the drivers are worse.

Driving here is very simple and can be a rewarding experience. A couple of pointers, but read the whole thread to get the idea.

1, Drive like every other driver on the road is trying to kill you, I mean they want to impale you on their car as a hood ornament.

2, Act as if all pedestrians are actively trying to commit ritual suicide. They do not look out for you they expect you to look out for them, they will walk straight out on the road without looking, so watch out for them.

3, Dogs and other wildlife, Carabao as well have no road sense, just like pedestrians. By the way, wait for the Carabao, they will really make a dent in your car.

4, Find some aftermarket really bright lights, and a really loud 130db or louder air horn and have them fitted to your car.

5, When passing anything, sound your horn twice as you come out to pass, and flash your lights as well if it is at night. Remember to use the loud air horn if passing a Jeepney or truck.

6, Jeepney drivers obtained their licenses from the inside of a breakfast cereal box probably a Wheaties package. Remember if there is the slightest possibility of a jeepney fitting in a spot you could not squeeze a motorcycle into, they will put their jeepney into it, then force you out of the way.

7, If you find a driver using turn signals and brake lights it is a rare occurrence, savor it, you may never see it again.

8, Jeepney drivers rarely use headlights even on the blackest of dark nights, I think in their limited minds they are saving gas.

9, Get some really big brass gonads, you will need them.

10, Put a sign on the back of your vehicle, "Don't complain about my driving to me, I learned it from watching you!" Make sure it is also translated into Tagalog and every other possible dialect here, as some don't know English or Tagalog and some don't know how to read, mainly jeepney drivers.

11, Watch out for errant tricycles, they stop where they want, often in the middle of the road to pick up passengers, and they expect you to stop and wait for them, they don't use headlights most of the time, nor turn signals or brake lights.

12, Have fun.

Wayne...........Click Here to Read More............

Driving in the Philippines

Since I wrote my comments on driving in the Philippines, I never thought I would try to drive in the Philippines myself. I have driven with others, foreigners and Filipinos, taken taxis, more often and when I was first here in Cebu always took jeeps. But I have a bit of a back problem so I went to taxis for more headroom. But I have to pick one of the larger model cars. Some the taxis have very little headroom certainly not enough for my 6'2" body. In a fit of madness and when a friend told me about this "wonderful car for sale a 1983 Toyota, nothing to fix," for only about USD 1,000. So I bought it to see what driving in the Philippines was like for me. I have driven in many countries over the years and decided I would like to just try it here. So I bought the Toyota. Then I put about USD 1,000 into fixing it. Used cars are expensive here compared to the States and driving is tricky to say the least. I will only drive very early in the morning or short distances. Traffic in Cebu City is hard to drive in, very slow. But I knew that from the taxis and Jeepneys. From what I read below it is much easier to drive in smaller cities, of course, but rush hour traffic is a problem. I should point out many of the smaller cities do not have taxis and the busses are used only from city to city, except for a few in big cities that are local busses. They do have vans now, V-hires that cost more than busses in Manila for Metro Manila travel and in the smaller places for travel from town to town. These are very comfortable and but more expensive than the jeeps, but still cheap by US standards.

Here are some comments about driving in the Philippines and driving in certain Philippine cities from members of our free mailing List of more than 1, 900 as of today December 2004. If you want to join this group just click here: livinginthephilippines3.

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I like the walking part if the beggars will leave me alone. Vehicles used here often are two small for my big frame. I've seen guys a lot bigger than me too. They usually have a driver and a car. I think you should take busses,Jeepneys, tricycles, and walk.

I think the main suggestion on the website and this group is for People who are going to come here and drive with know idea what the Traffic conditions are, "not to". I drive here, but very seldom get the car out to drive around town, scooter is much better, but I drive to Vigan, San Fernando, Baguio and to Manila, once at the hotel I get taxis till returning. but I wouldn't recommend anyone to arrive here for the first time with the idea of renting a car to go touring, certainly the lack of enforcement of the rules is a problem and the fact that lights are optional at night has given me a few good moments. I quote from somewhere or other on the internet "the good thing about driving is the Philippines is that signs are just suggestions." My experience is no one will wait for you to go, but they will always let you in when you go.

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I have driven in Manila a number of times, and drive in Baguio every day. You need to remember that the person behind you always watches the one in front, as you also concentrate on watching the car ahead. Do not be intimidated, and drive like Filipinos do - if you see a space fill it before someone else does!

Keep checking your side mirrors if you think others are crowding you, and keep your nerve. After a while it'll become second-nature. read on www.livinginthephilippines.com that a foreigner shouldn't attempt to drive a car in the Philippines. I agree and I think it is forbidden for a foreigner to drive in Manila. That place is crazy. However, I drive in Dipolog every day. So do many other expats. Maybe you have never been to Dipolog, but let me tell you it is pretty crowded Monday thru Saturday. Sunday's traffic is low.

What it takes is a little patience and the knowledge that no one wants to be in an accident. Motor cab drivers are rude and think they can bully their way through, but my Corolla is one of the big ones (1981) and an automatic. I just inch my way through intersections where there are no signs or any other controls. If I will beat them to the opening they stop.

I drive with my left foot on the break always. The trick is not to go to fast and always be prepared to stop. People will pass you on both sides and even when you are turning. I have learned to watch behind me for speeding motorcycles when I make turns.

I see motorcycle accidents quite often. It is too bad they don't get tough on those people. They need to learn some rules. Some of it is drinking Tuba in the mornings. I have many drunkards right outside my apartment at the two cantinas.

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I'm not sure the website was clear about that, but your idea is good. I always take proactive precautions and I sometimes take a motor cab instead of driving. It's the parking problem. Also, the wind blowing in your face when in a motor cab feels pretty good around here.

I definitely don't drive at night much and I wouldn't even try to drive in Manila. I even try to avoid driving in the rain.

--Being a foreigner whenever you get in an accident it's always your fault.

--Evan with a "reputable" insurance company getting a claim settled here is a nightmare.

--Traffic rules are rarely enforced or followed here.

This has not been my experience. My wife was driving our car a few weeks ago; I was in the front passenger seat and our daughter in the back. In good time my wife signaled a right turn into the narrow lane leading to our daughter's school and was 2 feet from the kerb. She had checked her mirrors before signalling. As she turned a solo motorbike with pillion passenger attempted to overtake on the nearside (the right). He hit the front of the car knocking off the car skirt/side valance and denting and scratching the front wing and door. The mirror was also broken. A small crowd gathered, including a Poso. All agreed the accident was the fault of the motorbike rider and the Poso asked if we wanted to file a complaint. We didn't as the only damage we'd immediately noticed was the skirt/valance being knocked off and I could fix that. On to the insurance claim. It was settled without any delay on the part of the Insurance company (AVIVA).

The thing is - no one is going to hit your car on purpose but there does seem to be a big game of "Chicken" going on. I suspect that I could learn to drive there. The worst place that I ever drove in was Boston and after a while I was like a native.

Driving in Manila and Legaspi City, Bicol