Ambulances on SOuth Super Highway

**andyinmanila** · December 10th, 2009 11:56 AM

As an English guy who has lived here for 3 years I have noticed a few things (none good) about Filipino roads and Driving.

Here is my list maybe some of you guys might like to respond

Everyday on the South super highway at about 7 am at least 2 ambulances try and go to Manila, I have been told by staff at work that there are probably no patients but some mayor or minor politician abusing power and using an ambulance, TRUE/FALSE,
Why do some idiot drivers try and drive 1 meter behind the ambulance? how stupid is that, and don't tell me they are relatives.
Flashing lights, every other country in the world flashing lights is a warning NOT get out of the way im coming through, in fact in Europe a flash on the headlights is a courtesy to say " you can go first"
why do people insist on putting police horns and red and blues on their cars, they just look and sound stupid, I do not move for them.
Why dont Filipinos like giving way? changing lanes is near impossible, normal driving is Mirror, Signal, Maneuver (NOTE SIGNAL). Filipino drivers seem to be stuck with a me first attitude.
Drivers in the centre lane travelling at 20-30 kph with hazard lights flashing...GET OFF THE ROAD...
If you have a flat tire, move to the side Dont change the wheel taking up 2 lanes and inconveinenting maybe 30 thousand people.
Jeeps are driven by idiots with no consideration for others, and put some lights on or get off the road
Taxis are driven by even bigger idiots
MMDA or other traffic enforcers like stopping us foreigners, They get no money from me as I went out of my way to know what they can and cannot legally ask when you are stopped. I was stopped the other day for swerving and I was actually changing lanes using my signal indicators
I was also stopped for jumping an orange light, I asked him why were the 2 cars behind me not stopped he had no answer, I asked him what orange means...he said stop, it actually means prepare to stop..
What the Philippines needs is Driver testing, ie take a test before you can drive on the road
It also needs proper policing on the roads
It needs to be rid of some of the dilapidated vehicles on the roads
I know Jeeps are the main means of transport but transport technology has moved on in the last 50 years so should jeeps, ie no smoke belching
I forgot buses are driven by bigger idiots than taxis and jeeps, they think they are in sports cars. THats it RANT over

**shadow** · December 10th, 2009 12:07 PM

all your observations are right on the dot...to sum it all up, all I can say is...

WELCOME TO THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND OF PHILIPPINES! WHERE TRAFFIC RULES ARE JUST A SUGGESTION.

**xtremerider** · December 10th, 2009 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by andyinmanila

As an English guy who has lived here for 3 years I have noticed a few things (none good) about Filipino roads and Driving.

Here is my list maybe some of you guys might like to respond

Everyday on the South super highway at about 7 am at least 2 ambulances try and go to Manila, I have been told by staff at work that there are probably no patients but some mayor or minor politician abusing power and using an ambulance, TRUE/FALSE,
Why do some idiot drivers try and drive 1 meter behind the ambulance? how stupid is that, and don't tell me they are relatives.
Flashing lights, every other country in the world flashing lights is a warning NOT get out of the way im coming through, in fact in Europe a flash on the headlights is a courtesy to say " you can go first"
why do people insist on putting police horns and red and blues on their cars, they just look and sound stupid, I do not move for them.
Why dont Filipinos like giving way? changing lanes is near impossible, normal driving is Mirror, Signal, Maneuver (NOTE SIGNAL). Filipino drivers seem to be stuck with a me first attitude.
Drivers in the centre lane travelling at 20-30 kph with hazard lights flashing...GET OFF THE ROAD...
If you have a flat tire, move to the side Dont change the wheel taking up 2 lanes and inconveinenting maybe 30 thousand people.
Jeeps are driven by idiots with no consideration for others, and put some lights on or get off the road
Taxis are driven by even bigger idiots
MMDA or other traffic enforcers like stopping us foreigners, They get no money from me as I went out of my way to know what they can and cannot legally ask when you are stopped. I was stopped the other day for swerving and I was actually changing lanes using my signal indicators
I was also stopped for jumping an orange light, I asked him why were the 2 cars behind me not stopped he had no answer, I asked him what orange means...he said stop, it actually means prepare to stop..
What the Philippines needs is Driver testing, ie take a test before you can drive on the road
It also needs proper policing on the roads
It needs to be rid of some of the dilapidated vehicles on the roads
I know Jeeps are the main means of transport but transport technology has moved on in the last 50 years so should jeeps, ie no smoke belching
I forgot buses are driven by bigger idiots than taxis and jeeps, they think they are in sports cars. THats it RANT over

Good day to you Mate...

I'm a filipino and born as filipino but I experience to drive here and to the other countries as well. All your points are well specifically said. When I got my UAE driver's license and start to drive in UAE. I notice all this points. It's way big difference driving here and to other countries. Most driver's here specially those driving Public utility vehicle didn't go to driving school to get a license even the private one's. You can only count thouse who goes to school to get their license.

Even a blind person can pass the test and get a professional driver's license. Everything here is different and we must live with it because this is the system in this country...

Drive safe...

**ghosthunter** · December 10th, 2009 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by andyinmanila

[*]Everyday on the South super highway at about 7 am at least 2 ambulances try and go to Manila, I have been told by staff at work that there are probably no patients but some mayor or minor politician abusing power and using an ambulance, TRUE/FALSE,

True.

[*]Why do some idiot drivers try and drive 1 meter behind the ambulance? how stupid is that, and don't tell me they are relatives.

It's the fastest way to beat traffic. I have done it as well a number of times but it was behind police escorted government official's vehicles. Difference of arriving in 15 minutes or an hour.

[*]Flashing lights, every other country in the world flashing lights is a warning NOT get out of the way im coming through, in fact in Europe a flash on the headlights is a courtesy to say " you can go first"

Flashing the hazard lights generates a forcefield around the car and gives it super powers of authority/emergency.

[*]why do people insist on putting police horns and red and blues on their cars, they just look and sound stupid, I do not move for them.

This is the next level up of turning on your hazard lights. These idiots feel that sounding off their police sirens and lights would get traffic moving faster. And it actually does in some situations that is why people still do it.

[*]I was also stopped for jumping an orange light, I asked him why were the 2 cars behind me not stopped he had no answer, I asked him what orange means...he said stop, it actually means prepare to stop..

Better than getting ticketed for "running a yellow light" hehehe

[*]What the Philippines needs is Driver testing, ie take a test before you can drive on the road

There actually is a test before you can get your license but it's a sham. Even a legally blind guy can pass the test.

[*]It needs to be rid of some of the dilapidated vehicles on the roads

That would probably include 75% of all government vehicles if that was done. hehehe

[*]I know Jeeps are the main means of transport but transport technology has moved on in the last 50 years so should jeeps, ie no smoke belching

I wouldn't be surprised if you can find 50 year old jeepneys still on the road. hehehe

**boybi** · December 10th, 2009 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by andyinmanila

As an English guy who has lived here for 3 years I have noticed a few things (none good) about Filipino roads and Driving.

Here is my list maybe some of you guys might like to respond

Everyday on the South super highway at about 7 am at least 2 ambulances try and go to Manila, I have been told by staff at work that there are probably no patients but some mayor or minor politician abusing power and using an ambulance, TRUE/FALSE,
Why do some idiot drivers try and drive 1 meter behind the ambulance? how stupid is that, and don't tell me they are relatives.
Flashing lights, every other country in the world flashing lights is a warning NOT get out of the way im coming through, in fact in Europe a flash on the headlights is a courtesy to say " you can go first"
why do people insist on putting police horns and red and blues on their cars, they just look and sound stupid, I do not move for them.
Why dont Filipinos like giving way? changing lanes is near impossible, normal driving is Mirror, Signal, Maneuver (NOTE SIGNAL). Filipino drivers seem to be stuck with a me first attitude.
Drivers in the centre lane travelling at 20-30 kph with hazard lights flashing...GET OFF THE ROAD...
If you have a flat tire, move to the side Dont change the wheel taking up 2 lanes and inconveinenting maybe 30 thousand people.
Jeeps are driven by idiots with no consideration for others, and put some lights on or get off the road
Taxis are driven by even bigger idiots
MMDA or other traffic enforcers like stopping us foreigners, They get no money from me as I went out of my way to know what they can and cannot legally ask when you are stopped. I was stopped the other day for swerving and I was actually changing lanes using my signal indicators
I was also stopped for jumping an orange light, I asked him why were the 2 cars behind me not stopped he had no answer, I asked him what orange means...he said stop, it actually means prepare to stop..
What the Philippines needs is Driver testing, ie take a test before you can drive on the road
It also needs proper policing on the roads
It needs to be rid of some of the dilapidated vehicles on the roads
I know Jeeps are the main means of transport but transport technology has moved on in the last 50 years so should jeeps, ie no smoke belching
I forgot buses are driven by bigger idiots than taxis and jeeps, they think they are in sports cars. THats it RANT over

I didn't know those were bad or illegal, I thought they were normal and according to the law.

Being born here must have made me immune to these things :bwahaha:

**xtremerider** · December 10th, 2009 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by boybi

I didn't know those were bad or illegal, I thought they were normal and according to the law.

Being born here must have made me immune to these things :bwahaha:

This are the things probably not encounter outside the Philippines...as everybody says " ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES" by all means it's true

**jansky** · December 10th, 2009 12:57 PM

oh.. i remember ung patalastas dati sa TV na tagline is 'oh walang ganyan sa states, dito lang sa pilipinas'

**p_borj** · December 10th, 2009 04:32 PM

Flashing lights, every other country in the world flashing lights is a warning NOT get out of the way im coming through, in fact in Europe a flash on the headlights is a courtesy to say " you can go first"

Good day there sir! Welcome to the Philippine roads.

I won't deny this, but if I flash my lights, I signal them that I would be the one to go. This is just the way things were when I grew up.

Why dont Filipinos like giving way? changing lanes is near impossible, normal driving is Mirror, Signal, Maneuver (NOTE SIGNAL). Filipino drivers seem to be stuck with a me first attitude.

Well, things are messed up here but at least I'm not one of them. I always give way when I'm in the mood. Otherwise, I'm also one of those guys.

It needs to be rid of some of the dilapidated vehicles on the roads

I agree but as you can see, this is a third world country, you can't do anything about this.

I forgot buses are driven by bigger idiots than taxis and jeeps, they think they are in sports cars. THats it RANT over

My head always burst into flames when they speed right behind me and stop at a point blank range.

As you can see, I have a small car. I would be crashed to pieces with those idiots on the road. I totally agree with you here mate.

**Karag2** · December 10th, 2009 04:35 PM

all your observations are true... plus some more...
the main problem with our traffic situation is the abuse...
traffic officers let one pass so the other guy thinks 'if they can do it, why wont I'
sad part of this is that when in other countries, Filipino drivers tend to drive properly...

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

There actually is a test before you can get your license but it's a sham. Even a legally blind guy can pass the test.

I can attest to this, my father recently was declared leagally blind, and when he came with me to renew my license he tried to renew his... his dialogue was 'pang ID lang' (for ID purposes only)... lo and behold, he passed the medical exam and renewed his license...

btw, my father's not driving anymore so no worries here...

**andyinmanila** · December 10th, 2009 05:08 PM

Why does flashing your lights give you the right of way to cross a flow of traffic?

Also Korea and Japan were 3rd world countries and look at them now,

When i talk about dilapidated I mean some of those stupid jeeps from the provinces, or vehicles that barely move, or with no wheel alignment belching fumes etc..

Basically pieces of junk that I personally would never travel in,

They are dangerous and being a 3rd world country is no excuse.

Same as babies riding on Motorbikes or on the trike fuel tanks? Have some respect for your kids, if the bike goes over how does a child protect its self? adults know how to protect their head etc a child has no chance