Random Ramblings

[OTEP]

***Driving on EDSA (near MCU), I saw a scooter trying to cross the road via the Zebra (pedestrian) crossing and almost gets swiped by an L300. Isn't a scooter supposed to be driven like a regular vehicle and is not considered a 'pedestrian'? I was just wondering because it was the scooter driver who was furious at the L300 driver during the incident.


***Still driving along EDSA (southbound), after the Balintawak market. I'm on the leftmost lane. A Vios is waiting for a chance to execute a u-turn. I was driving with the flow of traffic (around 70kph) when I was nearing the Vios, holy crap, it decides to pull in front of me. The Vios had no plates. Maybe the driver was a newbie and does not know that an MB100 requires considerable distance to stop despite having big brakes. Tsk tsk tsk...

***A Corolla AE92 lost its front end after being swiped by a Corolla AE101 taxi on the corner of Congressional and Mindanao Avenue earlier this evening. Apparently the Corolla AE92 is from Congressional Avenue trying to make a left turn into Mindanao. The taxi is driving along Mindanao Avenue. I don't know if the AE92 driver doesn't know but Congressional-Mindanao is a NO LEFT TURN INTERSECTION. Ironically, the u-turn slot is less than 500 meters away.

[GerardTagayty]

the scooter thing! aarrgghh!!! kahit san yata parang feeling nila pedestrian sila e... sus tapos when driving on open roads naman nasa fast lane pa!! nakakabwisit!!! and yan sumisingit pa pag traffic!!! pag ganyan gusto ko ilabas braso ko para masuntok ko sila while making singit sa traffic... hahaha!!! coz the come uber close to your car and yun handles nila make me nervous! gggrr! ingat ka na ingat sa car mo maguguhitan lang nila pag na off balance sila tapos kakamutan ka lang ng ulo.... hhaaayyyzzz

[impulzz]

ganyan din madalas yung mga motor at scooter sa libis tapat nga KFC at Tilecenter na ped crossing nag u-turn, tapos iipitin pa nila yung tumatawid na tao...

[Kamui]

The scooter incident mentioned above shows the lack of education some Filipinos have. Because of the bias and prejudice against bicycles and motorcycles in this country the average people can't tell the difference between a bicycle and a motorcycle anymore. Being a foreigner, almost every person I talk to at work says motorcycles are just like bicycles and should be treated as one. This twisted way of thinking has apparently been passed down through the years and has corrupted the minds of average Filipinos. The guy who used a scooter to cross the pedestrian lane probably thinks it is okay since he thinks a motorcycle is just the same as a bicycle and that he can use them on the sidewalks like bicycles do. People in this country need to learn that a motorcycle is a legal road worthy motorized vehicle that deserves to be on the streets and not on the sidewalks. It should have the same rights as any 4 wheeled vehicle and follow the same rules.

The problem is not the vehicle, it is the Filipino attitude when driving them. How can the poor people learn that motorcycles should be driven like cars and follow the same rules as them, when even the rich people here don't know any better sometimes. Its either lack of knowledge or just the Filipino tendency to follow what others are doing even if he knows it is wrong because he sees everyone else is doing the same. This applies to all drivers in this country whether car or bike.

[IMm29]

People in this country need to learn that a motorcycle is a legal road worthy motorized vehicle that deserves to be on the streets and not on the sidewalks. It should have the same rights as any 4 wheeled vehicle and follow the same rules.

The problem is not the vehicle, it is the Filipino attitude when driving them. How can the poor people learn that motorcycles should be driven like cars and follow the same rules as them, when even the rich people here don't know any better sometimes. Its either lack of knowledge or just the Filipino tendency to follow what others are doing even if he knows it is wrong because he sees everyone else is doing the same. This applies to all drivers in this country whether car or bike.

Actually Kamui, it's both. Many drivers, whether of 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 18 wheeled vehicles, do lack the basic knowledge of What and What-Not to do when driving. That being the case, they succumb to the tendency to follow what others are doing. Other drivers are more knowledgeable, but also realize that by being sticklers for what is supposed to be done, they lose out due to what the others are doing, thus since they can't beat them, they join them.

IMO, there should be stricter requirements as regards driver's license issuance, and stricter enforcement on road rules. Pinoys are good law-abiders, if they know that the law has teeth, and will come after them for not doing what's right. Case in point, Pinoys in SBMA, and in other countries with stricter laws.

[IMm29]

***Driving along Kalayaan in Makati past P. Burgos and headed for Powerplant, I was following a scooter (Scooter #1 - ala Police Report) who was on my lane but slightly to the right half of it, side by side with another scooter (Scooter #2) who was on the lane to my right, but slightly to the left half of it. These two were apparently chatting with each other. The scooter in front of me then tested his acceleration and sped away. So I accelerated as well, since I was on my lane and Scooter # 2 didn't seem to have any intention of running after Scooter # 1. My mistake. As my front passenger door was already beside Scooter # 2, he learned how to downshift to go after Scooter # 1 and was swerving into my lane, since a car was in front of him. All this without even glancing at me. He had the shock of his life (and so did I) when he almost stuck his face on my front passenger window.

Aren't sideview mirrors a requirement on all motor vehicles? Well, whether or not they are, and whether or not you're on 2, 4, or how many more wheels, you're just not supposed to swerve into another lane without at least glancing at what's there or what's coming. For personal safety reasons, shouldn't the smaller vehicle be more concerned at what's there or what's coming? Should they all the more practice defensive driving?

[IMm29]

***Driving on EDSA (near MCU), I saw a scooter trying to cross the road via the Zebra (pedestrian) crossing and almost gets swiped by an L300. Isn't a scooter supposed to be driven like a regular vehicle and is not considered a 'pedestrian'? I was just wondering because it was the scooter driver who was furious at the L300 driver during the incident.

Aren't you required to have a license to drive a scooter? Well either way, IMO, scooters and motorbikes aren't supposed to use the 'zebra' as if they were bicycles. And what's with these scooter and motorbike drivers? They drive as if they own the road, and all other motorists on more than 2 wheels owe it to them, and as if their "Evel Knievel" antics will not get them hurt or worse, killed.

***A Corolla AE92 lost its front end after being swiped by a Corolla AE101 taxi on the corner of Congressional and Mindanao Avenue earlier this evening. Apparently the Corolla AE92 is from Congressional Avenue trying to make a left turn into Mindanao. The taxi is driving along Mindanao Avenue. I don't know if the AE92 driver doesn't know but Congressional-Mindanao is a NO LEFT TURN INTERSECTION. Ironically, the u-turn slot is less than 500 meters away.

Serves him right. That intersection is not lacking in traffic signages. I've seen Public and Private vehicles execute that turn, but not in the early evening, rather in the late hours when there are few vehicles. I'm not condoning it, but at least fewer people would be affected or endangered by this blatant disregard for the rules.