The Filipino Driving Style
By overdosed
@overdosed (230)
Philippines
January 29, 2008 1:39pm CST
You hear will hear a lot of comments about our style of driving.
Some favorable, others well, let's not go there.
But the funny thing is when foreigners comment on the Filipino style of driving. Specially jeepney drivers, you know, the story that the guy is driving, receiving money, and actually giving out the exact change. Then there's how we weave around the crazy traffic in EDSA.
My friend gave me a ticket to watch the Vertical Horizon concert as a birthday present last month ... and it was funny because Jamie Kennedy was commenting about the jeepney driver story and then Matt Scannel, the vocalist, said if ever he is in a tight fix on the road, he wants a Filipino driver to get him out of it.
Personally, I also have foreigner friends and they can't help but comment on how I drive and how other Filipinos drive. They said we're crazy and amazing at the same time.
Some say we'll not survive a day without a ticket in their state, some say we'll easily rule their streets, some say we drive like drunken teenagers. Hehehe.
So what do you guys think of our kind of driving? Are we okay or are we crazy?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@asawako48162 (3321)
• United States
10 Feb 08
In some parts of the Philippines the police are clamping down.
Passing on the right? blowing off red lights? it will not last forever.
My brother in laws both are good drivers in a truck or a motorcycle but they have
had years of experience. Manila is the wors traffic conitions i have ever seen as
it takes two hours to get any distance. I used to drive like this when I got out of the USAF but soon learned in the states that they will pull your driving privledges, fine you and possible jail. My last tickets were goinng through a yellow light an that was $125. fine and three points and going five miles over the speed limit..$115.00 fine and two points..get twelve points in two years and lose your driving prvledges..drive on a revoked license? jail time/fine
Also your can insurance will go up if you can still get it..its getting worse too
@asawako48162 (3321)
• United States
10 Feb 08
P.s. but saying this last post..when Philippine drivers come to the Untied States they are some of the best driver..they can drive..but in the Philippines they don't have too..maybe its just the way of the world
@overdosed (230)
• Philippines
22 Apr 08
Actually that is a common observation.
They say we are great drivers when we are in another country.
Maybe because:
1. We have a lot of practice HERE. Hehehe.
2. For fear of retribution and punishment in the other countries, we actually follow the laws.
Add one and two, you get the best drivers in the world. Hehehe.
So, maybe the problem in our country is not the lack of discipline. It's really the lax enforcement of the laws ... and again, corruption. Tsk, tsk. Sayang talaga.
@anaknitatay (1335)
• Philippines
30 Jan 08
filipino driving style is not crazy. We are actually very compliant when driving in other countries.
It is the driving style in the philippines that is crazy and this is because of the non-implementation of traffic rues and regulations not only by the drivers but also by the pedestrians
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
1 Feb 08
It really depends on the discipline of the drivers. You can either follow the traffic regulations or not for their own advantage.
They're not tight or strict with such things here in the country but some still enforce traffic rules, however seldom it may be.
Then mentioning traffic. Of course as the number of automobiles in the country rise to some extent, the roads don't seem to change or even develop to accomodate the population of vehicles. That's why they do color coding even though they refer to numbers and not colors.
Along with the number of vehicles would be those that are still forced to run even though they are already rundowned vehicles. Often a cause of traffic jams when some of them stop due to not working in order.
Drivers here in the coutry, well those who really do driving for a living, are really creative and innovative with their style of driving.
@overdosed (230)
• Philippines
31 Jan 08
I think the better culprit is corruption.
I was watching a show some months ago about jeepney drivers.
I was aghast watching it because the reporter showed the different traffic signs, and they don't know the meanings of it.
I mean how the heck did they pass the driving exam! I bet they slipped in a few a bucks to the examiner just to let them off.
Shesh!
