禁漫天堂

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Maybe of interest ..

Are there specific times of day, weather conditions, or seasons that make driving more dangerous?

聽 聽 Out in the provinces, driving in the dark is dangerous.聽 There are many vehicles driving without any lights.

Are there specific times of day, weather conditions, or seasons that make driving more dangerous?

When scooters are around.

Pedestrian crossing, 90% of drivers/riders don't stop or can't see them but unlike other counties that have warning signs none here, just a bit of paint on the road.

Civilians waiting for the Jeepney or tricycle standing on a pedestrian crossing is inconsiderate to motorists.

All in all the mayhem seems to work even in big cities.

Our local city of SFC La Union has 3 sets of traffic lights in town and the last time I saw them work was over 10 years ago and simply employ traffic controllers, stupid.

Electric 2/3 and 4 wheelers doing 15/20 klicks in the middle of the road holding up the traffic flow.

Cheers, Steve.

bigpearl said . . . Pedestrian crossing, 90% of drivers/riders don't stop or can't see them but unlike other counties that have warning signs none here, just a bit of paint on the road.

In Las Vegas this is strictly enforced, once a pedestrian steps off the curb at a crosswalk, you must stop. Pedestrians who jaywalk can also be ticketed.

Like speed traps, police use decoys, to catch motorists motorists not giving the right of way to pedestrians.

Bob? This is the Philippines and a Philippines expat site, Not Las Vegas.

Cheers, Steve.

Bob? This is the Philippines and a Philippines expat site, Not Las Vegas.Cheers, Steve. - @bigpearl

****

You mentioned other countries in post #5

Hello everyone,

Thanks to @PalawOne for sharing the list of violations and penalties. 馃槈

I would prefer that we keep this discussion focused on the Philippines only, please.

Thank you,

Cheryl

I went to Tinago Falls with my G/F and other family members one time and late in the afternoon after lunch and a few dips in the Falls found our driver with a quarter bottle of brandy. mixing it with the coke and sprite we had brought with us. Nobody seemed to care apart from me even when he produced a second bottle.

@Cherryann01

few dips in the Falls

Did you go skinny dipping with your new GF ?

@Cherryann01
few dips in the Falls
Did you go skinny dipping with your new GF ? - @Lotus Eater

No, maybe next time but only in the bath tub.

Been chatting with Grab drivers whenever I use Grab Car in the Philippines. They said that any collision between scooters/motorcycles (aka two-wheels) and any 4-wheeled vehicles, it will always be the fault on the 4-wheeled vehicle. Sounds very unfair to me since there is a lot of reckless scooter drivers. On the other hand, reckless 4-wheel drivers are everywhere too and they can do a lot of damage to the 2 wheels. I guess this law works considering driver behaviors in the Philippines. But there are unfortunate situations when the 2-wheel deliberately collides with 4-wheels.

Been chatting with Grab drivers whenever I use Grab Car in the Philippines. They said that any collision between scooters/motorcycles (aka two-wheels) and any 4-wheeled vehicles, it will always be the fault on the 4-wheeled vehicle. Sounds very unfair to me since there is a lot of reckless scooter drivers. On the other hand, reckless 4-wheel drivers are everywhere too and they can do a lot of damage to the 2 wheels. I guess this law works considering driver behaviors in the Philippines. But there are unfortunate situations when the 2-wheel deliberately collides with 4-wheels. - @Jackson4

I think those assumptions hold true when there is no proof of innocence. They believe the 4-wheeler has more money and can afford to pay. However, I have heard of a cash where they tried to blame the 4 wheeler as per usual but the 4 wheeler had a dash can which proved the motorcycle hit him. 4 wheeler guy won the court case. Maybe a dash cam is a good idea here.

4 wheeler guy won the court case. Maybe a dash cam is a good idea here. - @danfinn

I hope there is judgement for the 2-wheeler to pay the court and lawyer fees of the 4-wheeler.

@Jackson4

With a corrupt partisan judicial system from top to bottom I would imagine that is an unlikely albeit equitable outcome.

It begs the question given the dashcam footage why this ever got to court . Surely the claimant would have to pay the initial court fees to bring the claim.

@Cherryann01

I think the worst time to be on Ph Roads is late Sunday afternoon, when everyone is driving home from the Beach, after

drinking Rum and Coke all day.

@Rammers

In the province, perhaps, but in Metro Manila its from 6:30 am - 10 am or so and again from 5-9 pm Mon-Sat.

Hello everyone,
Thanks to @PalawOne for sharing the list of violations and penalties. 馃槈

I would prefer that we keep this discussion focused on the Philippines only, please.

Thank you,

Cheryl - @Cheryl

I have read online that there is also a penalty point system for traffic offenses in the Philippines so most or all of P1's list of offenses should result in the fine plus points on the driving licence. However I am sure that there are plenty of disqualified drivers on the road just like in other countries.

Sorry to burst your bubble Cherry but this is the Philippines and while laws exist are generally enforced聽 with a bribe,,,,,, golly take look at the Jeepney's belching copious amounts of soot and crap into the atmosphere, How do they get through the annual emissions tests?

Many years ago my better half went through a red light in Manila and was collared by the law,,,,,, I wanted to argue the toss and Ben told me to shut up. The fine was P 1K and could only be paid in cash in the local municipal office,,,,,,, we were on our way home 6 hours north and the last thing we wanted was a trip back to a hole to pay a bill,,,,,,, I See Ben hand the cop his wallet with a 500 peso note underneath. Quickly in his pocket and waved on,,,,, ah the wonders of a corrupt system, Christmas and birthdays taken care of, wonder if they share the spoils?

LOL, when I'm pulled over they wave me through.

Just our experience.

Cheers, Steve.

@bigpearl

Yes I was actually thinking about bribery when I was typing my response, just did not mention it but thought it would come into play.

An offence here about 6 years ago cost me much more in increased insurance premiums than the fine, roughly x5 over the 5 year period and I was obliged to declare the offence and penalty points received every time I renewed my insurance. So I guess I would do the same as Ben.

By the way - Do you get many Sunday Drivers over there?

LOL Cherry. Here San Juan just down the road is Friday, Saturday and the proverbial Sunday drivers,,,,,, We do all our sh1t on the other 4 days to miss the rubber necks from Manila and other locales,,,,, wonder at times how they made the 6 hour drive. The surf is not that great there, watch it every day here from my office 10 minutes north. More than glad we never purchased there 10 years ago.

Cheers, Steve.

Here in Angeles, it's the WIld West on the roads. The couple of traffic lights are observed, but stop signs are ignored and whoever can get in front of you does. Down the road in Subic, they seem serious about obeying traffic rules. Manila, too. But still, drivers don't seem to know that there are rules. or even know how to drive in many cases.

I'm a pretty aggressive driver, and adrenaline is my drug of choice, so I have a very good time driving here. I've been T-boned by inattentive motorcycles twice, once the girl admitted she was looking at her phone instead of the road. The first time (with advice from my car guy) I gave 3000 pesos, the second time he told me to just walk away--she wasn't licensed, no helmet, calling the police would not have been good for her.

I've gotten stopped in each place, the first time a 1000 peso note got me on my way again. The second time I had a knowledgeable Filipina with me, and learned that 500 pesos was appropriate with all concerned. Same same Jakarta and TJ. Poor traffic cops stand in the elements all day and are underpaid, only fair that they soud earn a little extra.

I LOVE driving here. I just have to be careful to "shift gears" when I go back to LA.

I agree with most of the points above, I will add, I am almost always waved through stops as I am obviously not local and I am wearing a helmet.聽 That being said the two times I was stopped I showed my papers and had a friendly chat with the officers and they were very nice.聽 I went through without problems.聽 The first stop I did not have a Philippines DL, rather a Canadian and and International licenses which is only a translation of the Canadian license.聽 It was studied for over 5 min before I was allowed to move on.聽 No bribe just wait for him to see I was lagit.

As for rules of the road here.聽 Many customs that are not "legal" but are the norm and need to be followed for safety.聽 For instance, when turning left... don't stop in the left lane and sit there waiting for a break in traffic to make the turn, you could easily be rear ended.聽 The norm in Visayas is to go over onto the left shoulder in advance of your turn and drive into oncoming traffic till you get to your turn.聽 Sounds crazy but it works.聽 This is not what the rules say but in reality it is how it works.聽 When in Rome, do as the Romans.聽

The maintenance on the roads varries greatly from municipality to municipality.聽 Dauin Negros has amazing highway well maintained and the Barangay roads differ greatly.聽 Oslob Cebu has more potholes than pavement in some areas.聽 This is especially dangerous on a 2 wheeler in the rain when you cannot distinguish the pothole from the pavement.聽 Road quality is one of the reasons I choose Dauin.

Eyes on the road 100%, watching for animals darting out, people stepping out, other vehicles pulling out in front of you.聽 Be ready to brake or veer around an obstacle at any moment and also watch behind you so you know who is coming up behind and may almost drive you off the road.聽 Yes it is wild wild west and not for the faint of heart.聽 No room for any lack of attention.

Be safe out there,

Donald

Wow, I haven't seen that left turn maneuver here. But mos tof the roads I use are either divided or too narrow to have a shoulder (at least, one that isn't filled with parked cars or poles),

I have determined that there is only one rule of the road here (Cagayan de Oro, Northern Mindanao): Do not hit anything or anyone. Everything else goes and is accepted.

Wow, I haven't seen that left turn maneuver here. But mos tof the roads I use are either divided or too narrow to have a shoulder (at least, one that isn't filled with parked cars or poles), - @bizwizard

Haha, oh yes, we have poles on the shoulder to watch out for and sometimes they are in the middle of the curb lane.聽 More than a few bad accidents have happened with drunks driving into them.

Our highway is not divided but it is a wide 4 lanes and significant shoulder in most parts.聽 However people have to pass into oncoming traffic as people drive slow in trikes or cars in the left lane... very frustrating.

@Cheryl

I never drive in the Philippines. I have the wife's family drive or hire drivers and vehicles. It is safer from accident scams and it is economical. My experience is in Manila and Davao. It is simple solution to the chaos and leaves me with no liability for accidents.

@Cheryl

Hello Cheryl.

I have been here for 6 years {Lapu Lapu}.聽 Pretty much, drivers have NO respect for anyone else. Roads are crowed and best time to travel is 12.30pm, 1.30pm. The biggest wins, anyone with a fraction of an inch in front feels they are entittled to cut you off and push you off the road. If you are a foreigner, it is always your fault and they want you to pay, even if they are in the wrong..

A little bit of American style of road rage in the Philippines maybe would get drivers to change their ways.

A little bit of American style of road rage in the Philippines maybe would get drivers to change their ways. - @Enzyte Bob

Phew phew phew

A little bit of American style of road rage in the Philippines maybe would get drivers to change their ways. - @Enzyte Bob

Yeah, instead of merely being impolite, they'd kill. you.

Crossing the road is difficult at the best of times in the Philippines although HCMC is the worst I have seen for that. Every filipina I have ever been with took my hand and guided me across the road. The times I have had to cross the road myself, I tend to cross near where other people are聽 trying to cross and leave a space at the side so if a car fails to stop somebody will provide a small buffer between the car and me meaning some other poor sole will be hit before me taking the brunt of the impact.

@Enzyte Bob

Sorry, they are TOO arrogant and entitled, All traffic has to make way for them. That is what I have found in Mactan.You are responsible for everyone else`s safety. Ant traffic altercations, the foreigner is to pay, right or wrong.

Ant traffic altercations, the foreigner is to pay, right or wrong. - @GoDees

I remember this was true in Saudi Arabia when I worked there in the 90s. Not sure if this is true in the Philippines. I thought laws are more fairly applied in the Philippines, unless you insulted the authorities.

For example, the Russian vlogger. They're going to make him an example.

The times I have had to cross the road myself, I tend to cross near where other people are trying to cross and leave a space at the side so if a car fails to stop somebody will provide a small buffer between the car and me meaning some other poor sole will be hit before me taking the brunt of the impact. - @Cherryann01

馃槀

A little bit of American style of road rage in the Philippines maybe would get drivers to change their ways. - @Enzyte Bob

I'm not so sure Bob. Stateside its shoot first and ask questions later. The second amendment etc.

Here's a couple of media items on this issue ..

2025 Resolutions For All Filipino Drivers

by VJ Bacungan聽 January 1, 2025

We鈥檒l show you how you can make your motoring lives easier and safer this New Year.

Calm down

Road congestion is undoubtedly a product of monumental systematic failures.

From poor urban planning to the unregulated sale of cars and motorcycles, our love for our own set of wheels has the wholly unsurprising consequence of turning our alleyways, urban roads, national highways and expressways into parking lots.

And letting off steam on your fellow suffering road users is barking up the wrong tree.

Going out on the road just to get mad at everybody not only makes you a complete lunatic who should have his or her driving license taken away, but only makes our roads even more dangerous.

So, accept what you鈥檙e in for and find a way around it.

Push for safer cars and roads

The absolutely right tree to bark up includes those who formulate and implement public policy 鈥� the very same people we are employing with all our votes and taxes.

Philippine politicians have long been renowned for being greedy, self-serving and stubborn, but some are actually willing to use their power for useful policies.

That鈥檚 how the likes of the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act, the Anti-Distracted Driving Act, and the Children鈥檚 Safety of Motorcycles Act managed to see the light of day.

But it cannot stop with just passing landmark laws 鈥� bearing down and helping resolve the shortcomings of implementing agencies like the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and others will make all this legislation worth more than the paper they are printed on.

This is because road crashes are shocking in more ways than just viral videos 鈥� the World Health Organization (WHO) said road crashes killed 11,096 Filipinos in 2021, an ahas that brought massive pain, suffering, and expense to their loved ones.

And perhaps most shocking of all, road crashes cost an estimated 3 percent of our gross domestic product (GDP), which is a measure of our economic strength.

Using the World Bank鈥檚 computation of the Philippines鈥� 2023 GDP, all this carnage cost us around P730 billion that year for everything from fixing damaged roads, to providing medical care.

Think about it 鈥� we spent around P730 billion on something that could be prevented entirely with sound policy that is properly implemented by the people we are paying. In private enterprise, heads would roll if employees and executives spent that much money on the aftermath, instead of fixing the actual problem.

Inquirer Motoring has long outlined several helpful policy measures, ranging from mandating active driver-assist systems in all new cars sold locally to creating a Philippine Transportation Safety Board that can effectively find the causes of road crashes.

Making a difference shouldn鈥檛 just be the job of special-interest groups and political lobbyists

Relearn to drive

As I鈥檝e written before, the weakest link in any car, motorcycle, truck or even bicycle, is the human operating it.

None of these machines just suddenly lose control and crash 鈥� the fact that there鈥檚 someone driving is why the WHO says no road crash is ever an accident.

Indeed, the MMDA said in its 2023 Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System that there were 85,954 crashes in the metro that year.

The top three vehicles involved were cars (54 percent), motorcycles (22.03 percent), and trucks (7.41 percent)... (snip)

--

Editorial:

Our Unsafe Roads

Philippine Daily Inquirer / May 07, 2025

It is the height of irony that just as the Philippines began observing Land Transportation Safety Month, a series of fatal road mishaps occurred, including two tragic vehicular accidents that happened just days apart, claiming 12 lives, injuring dozens more, and damaging property.

The video of an overseas Filipino worker crying out in anguish after a wayward SUV killed his 5-year-old daughter just moments after he kissed her goodbye at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) were so gut-wrenching that it spurred the government to action.

鈥淲e need to make the people feel safe on our roads again. This is the sad reality 鈥� and this needs to change now,鈥� Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said, adding that both the government and the bus companies 鈥渉ave failed the commuting public.鈥� President Marcos, he said, 鈥渄emanded action.鈥�

Last Monday, Dizon issued a department order mandating the regular alcohol and drug testing for drivers of all public utility vehicles (PUVs) including jeepneys, buses, trucks for hire, UV Express vans as well as cars used by ride-hailing apps and motorcycle taxis.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) directed the operators and owners of PUVs to make sure that their drivers who are responsible for the safe transport of passengers are free from drugs, alcohol, and similar substances that can impair their driving.

The DOTr likewise ordered that all PUV drivers be subjected to a drug test every six months, starting from the date of employment and submit to random drug tests 鈥渨henever there is reasonable suspicion of drug use.鈥�

Maximum driving time

Failure to pass or submit the test results during inspections will mean confiscation of their driver鈥檚 license and impounding of their vehicle. Meanwhile, failure on the part of the owners and operators to implement these new rules will mean possible cancellation of their permits to operate PUVs.

While these new rules drew some protests, the DOTr is right on track to order the reduction in the number of hours that drivers can man the wheel of public utility buses to four straight hours from the current six to avoid fatigue.

The policy, already being observed in other countries in Asia and the European Union, is a response to the May 1 tragic incident where a Solid North bus plowed into vehicles at a toll booth along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, killing 10, including children, and injuring 37 others. That the driver was believed to have fallen asleep at the wheel brought to light possible violations of the current policy on maximum driving time.

The DOTr directive also directed the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to consistently implement 鈥渃lear, strict, and enforceable鈥� rules to ensure that all PUVs are roadworthy, to avoid accidents resulting from failed brakes or badly maintained vehicles that should be kept off the road.

Ever-present fixers

Part of the sweeping reforms is the mandate of the LTO to improve driver training and education to ensure that only those who are worthy will earn the license to drive, with higher standards to be imposed on those who will be designated as professional drivers handling PUVs and larger vehicles such as delivery trucks.

Dizon himself said that the current licensing system was a 鈥渟ham鈥� as drivers could easily get their licenses without having to go through a legitimate written and practical driving exam, which should therefore not surprise Filipinos that there are too many 鈥渃amote鈥� or unprofessional drivers on the road, posing a real risk to life and limb of others.

鈥淩oad safety depends on qualified, skilled, and law-abiding drivers. They are the only ones who should possess the license to drive,鈥� said Sen. Grace Poe.

That too many have the licenses even if they are unqualified can be blamed squarely on corruption, with money being paid under the table to secure the license via the ever-present fixers.

Mindset of safety

Corruption is the same culprit that can be blamed for the installation of allegedly substandard bollards at the NAIA. Mr. Marcos has already ordered an investigation into these supposedly substandard bollards that were installed during the time of former President Duterte.

The DOTr, LTO, LTFRB and other government agencies must be serious this time in implementing transportation safety rules even after public sentiment on the SCTEx and Naia accidents has died down. It is indeed only in strict implementation of these rules and the consistent application of sanctions that a mindset of safety and responsibility will be developed.

And as the government does its part, drivers of both public and private vehicles should be accountable too, and exercise personal responsibility. This thus means following basic but essential rules, from not texting or calling or driving, not driving when tired, sleepy, or drunk. Do not give in to road rage and follow road signs.

By following these simple rules and complying with DOTr directives, everybody will be able to get to their destinations in one piece. Making our roads safe is everyone鈥檚 responsibility.

--

I have not seen it mentioned, but an important factor contributing to the chaos is that there are no police in vehicles patrolling聽 roadways, at least that I have ever seen. So of course people do as they please. It becomes the law of the jungle - right of way is solely dependent on the size of your vehicle, not rules.聽 Driving behavior is a matter of what you can get away with. People drive after drinking, drive as fast as they want, pass where they want and ignore signage. Generally drivers of larger vehicles feel they are entitled to faster speeds and will be very aggressive.

Many Filipinos also have had no formal driver training, they learn to ride a motorbike at age 11 and continue to drive without a license as adults. If there's a checkpoint, which is generally the only police presence on the roads outside of cities, they simply stop and wait 100 meters away until it is disbanded after 30 min. On open highways like the Nautical Highway south of Cebu vehicle speeds range from 5 kph (peds and pedal trike), 25 kph (motorized trike), 60 kph (small car) to 90+ kph (large buses and SUV/pickup). It's the discrepancy in speeds that is so dangerous as it leads to constant passing - on narrow, bad roads.

It's more fun in the Philippines, lol.

@mugtech

No lights, I don't understand why they do this and crawling along in the fast lane too!