JAMES DEAKIN: 26 pet peeves on the road

[ghosthunter]

26 pet peeves on the road
By James Deakin (The Philippine Star)
July 29, 2012 12:00 AM

Manila, Philippines - Pet Peeves. We all have them. And if you have spent more than ten minutes driving in Metro Manila, you’ll know that the hardest part about writing this article was keeping within the theme and cutting it down to just 26. But I’ll try.

These things peeve me off so much that other day, I actually set up a Facebook account under the name ‘Nobody’ so that every time I see a post or a picture of a pet peeve of mine, I click ‘Like’ so the author gets a notification saying Nobody liked your post/photo. Actually, this is only half true because I had to put a family name, which was an adjective, but for the sake of our younger or sensitive readers, I’ll just leave that one to your imagination. But you get my point, hopefully.

Because most of this stuff I’m talking about is elementary. So what exactly are my pet peeves? Well, they’re no different to most of yours I’m sure. In fact, when I posed the question on my personal profile page, I got over 130 comments in less than 12 hours. And there were many duplicates. These are usually behaviors that you thought were ironed out in the earlier stages of evolution, yet somehow, still exist today, providing perhaps the best explanations yet for the missing links. (They are not the perceived gap in the hominid evolutionary record, but rather, those neanderthals you see on our roads that do the following.)

1. The intersection blocker

You know the type. And they’re almost always buses. He/she has nowhere to go, yet will block an intersection or take up that sole gap that could free up traffic coming the other way. It’s the if-I-can’t-go-anywhere-neither-can-you attitude that really gets me. The only way to solve this is to install a set of spikes at every intersection. They are down when the lights are green, but two seconds after they turn red, bam! They shoot up. Boom! How much is a set of tires these days? It could also address those armored cars that love beating the red light. Two turds with one stone.

2. The Counterflower

Here’s a person that is blurring the line between the animal kingdom and the plant kingdom, and clearly has the brain matter of the latter. Best way to deal with these arrogant fools is to use the same principal that car parks have employed for decades. One-way spikes. If you are traveling in the right direction, you won’t have a problem, but approach it from the other way, badabingbadaboom! Bet you’re smiling now just picturing it.

3. Helmet-less motorcycle cops

Actually this goes for all motorcyclists, but seeing a cop that publicly breaks the law he is trusted to uphold is no different to hearing a mother calling her own kid a sonoffa...

4. Traffic enforcers overriding perfectly working traffic lights

If a traffic enforcer must override a traffic signal light for any legitimate reason, they must disable it and set it to flashing yellow to indicate so.

5. The I-overtook-you-only-to-dive-on-my-brakes-to-make-my-turn-guy

Seriously? Bet this is the same guy that cuts in front of you in line at the fast food counter and then has no idea what he wants to order.

6. The haphazard hazard user

A hazard light is meant to alert people to a, wait for it, you ready? A HAZARD. Haz.ard |hazard| noun. a danger or risk: A potential source of danger: a fire hazard | a health hazard. Or in this case, a vehicle hazard—like you broke down and you’re letting people know about it. Rain is not a hazard. Nor is parking illegally or circling a mall waiting for your boss.

7. Left-lane hogger

This guy feels he is the human speed-limiter, keeping everyone at a pre-prescribed 60 (or worse, 40) kph. It is an overtaking lane, bro. If you’re not doing any overtaking, that is kind of your cue to get back in the middle.

8. Armored trucks with no regard to traffic lights and laws

9. Wang Wang users

Yes, they’re back.

10. Aggressive back up vehicles and rent-a-cop motorcycle escorts.

Don’t even get me started on this one.

11. The idiot who keeps it on high beam

This goes for when you are behind us, too. Not just for oncoming traffic.

12. Watch-your-car-boys

13. Jeepneys that load and unload in the middle of the road

They do it usually side by side (instead of staggered) with the jeep going the other direction just so they can build up a line longer than the one outside the Apple store when a new iPhone comes out.

14. Random smoke-belching tests

They target private vehicles but can’t seem to notice the 12-ton bus or truck behind it spewing clouds of black smoke.

15. The guy who can clearly see you are backing into a parking space and goes in nose first

16. The double parker

And no, switching on your hazard lights do not make it legal or any less annoying.

17. Underbone motorcycles with excruciatingly loud open tail pipes

18. Drivers that speed up to block you once you indicate that you’re changing to his lane

19. Getting tooted by the guy behind you the millisecond the light goes green

20. Getting tooted by the guy behind you when the light is still red

21. People who can’t get the concept of a rotunda

22. People who cut in line

23. People who are sitting at a red light on a turn-only lane but are going straight, blocking everyone else who wants to turn

24. The cash payer in the E-pass lane

25. Village security guards who know exactly who you are but won’t let you in without a sticker

26. Being restricted to just listing 26 pet peeves

source: 26 pet peeves on the road - The Philippine Star » Business Features » Motoring

[pop3corn]

ha natawa ako dun sa Nobody. pero tama sya kelangan ng family name. dapat nilagay nya Nobody Nobodybutyou, para kPoP

[crazy_boy]

Haha yung hazard light kulang. Dapat ma-link yung thread dito

[renzo_d10]

Nabasa ko nga yan sa dyaryo kahapon...

Dapat special mention diyan yung Ch. 2, recommend pa nga nila mag-hazard pag umuulan eh. :hysterical:

[vinj]

Too bad his print space is limited, i'm sure he there would have been more.

Right on the dot for those pet peeves though.

[cast_no_shadow]

Those annoying windshield washers!

[CVT]

25. Village security guards who know exactly who you are but won’t let you in without a sticker

Bumili na kasi ng sticker.... Mura lang naman e.... E, ka-mahal ng sasakyang dina-drive mo,- Walang face value; face value sa jaguar....

16.4K:bond:

[greenlyt]

24. The cash payer in the E-pass lane

hinuhuli eto ah, not unless police ang gumawa

[tomboy]

Yung mga kwatog na taxi driver na mahilig mag "snake move" = Sa red stoplight, kunyaring magright turn pero kakabig pabalik para makatawid na.

[JackFlash]

Spot on with all those pet peeves. If I may add no. 27. The pedestrian lane blocker. Malas mo lang if you observed proper driving etiquette by stopping short of the pedestrian lane when the lane blocker cuts in front of you as you wait for that green light. He'll hog the pedestrian lane when the light is red, atat na atat anticipating the green light. Doesn't give a damn about the pedestrians who have to snake their way around his car so they can cross the street quickly. Then when the light turns green, ang bagal naman pala umarangkada.

[renzo_d10]

Add ko na rin:

- Yung mga pedestrian na kung tumawid eh akala mo naglalakad sa ilalim ng buwan. Take note! While the pedestrian "stoplight" is red! Tapos kapag binusinahan mo kasi green yung ilaw for the cars, sila pa etong may ganang magalit.

[vinj]

Add ko na rin:

- Yung mga pedestrian na kung tumawid eh akala mo naglalakad sa ilalim ng buwan. Take note! While the pedestrian "stoplight" is red! Tapos kapag binusinahan mo kasi green yung ilaw for the cars, sila pa etong may ganang magalit.

There's an elementary school (public school) that i pass almost every morning and the students disregard the traffic signs when crossing. Basta tatawid, tatawid and they really cause traffic since the stoplights on the road are synchronized. Ang bababata pa and yet, so oblivious to basic rules already. I actually want to drop by that school once and let that be known to the principal.

Re: village stickers ... Laminate them and place them on the dash of the car you're using for the day. That's what I do, no use buying a bunch of stickers for the cars you're not using all at the same time.

Plus the village guards relish it when you break their "wee-hour" monotony by handing them a box of instant 3-1 coffee and some smokes. Sigurado kahit walang sticker ang kotse mo, pag ikaw nakita .. pasok ka, may hand salute pa!

Unfortunately in villages and schools, they've wised up to the lamination practice. All cars are required to be physically present in the village office for stickers to be personally placed on by the village people (with plate number printed on).

And yes, it pays to be friendly to the village guards and give them with small tokens from time to time.

[JackFlash]

... mga pedestrian na kung tumawid eh akala mo naglalakad sa ilalim ng buwan. Take note! While the pedestrian "stoplight" is red! Tapos kapag binusinahan mo kasi green yung ilaw for the cars, sila pa etong may ganang magalit.

Pedestrian-related also: Despite facilities that are built to ensure safety, there are morons who cross under footbridges, over underpasses and clamber over lane dividers. Some even have their kids in tow. There should be a sign in these areas that read, "Pag nasagasaan ang tumatawid dito, walang pananagutan ang motorista. Mga tanga kasi kayo dahil di niyo ginamit ang tamang tawiran." "May namatay na dito" doesn't seem to deter them because they think that motorists are always liable and can be asked to settle out of court by paying for the life or limb of the victim.

[IMm29]

Spot on with all those pet peeves. If I may add no. 27. The pedestrian lane blocker. Malas mo lang if you observed proper driving etiquette by stopping short of the pedestrian lane when the lane blocker cuts in front of you as you wait for that green light. He'll hog the pedestrian lane when the light is red, atat na atat anticipating the green light. Doesn't give a damn about the pedestrians who have to snake their way around his car so they can cross the street quickly. Then when the light turns green, ang bagal naman pala umarangkada.

Yeah very true. I would think a '50 pet peeves' articles wouldn't be too hard to do.

[nickriingen]

With regards to jeepney drivers, their nasty habit of turning off the headlights at night. So dangerous to motorists and pedestrians especially raining at night

In addition to watch your car boys, those tambays directing traffic at intersections on secondary roads and asking for coins from motorists in return. This task should be handled by local traffic enforcers.

[lowslowbenz]

Re: village stickers ... Laminate them and place them on the dash of the car you're using for the day. That's what I do, no use buying a bunch of stickers for the cars you're not using all at the same time.

Plus the village guards relish it when you break their "wee-hour" monotony by handing them a box of instant 3-1 coffee and some smokes. Sigurado kahit walang sticker ang kotse mo, pag ikaw nakita .. pasok ka, may hand salute pa!

Re: conterflow drivers ... what I really like to do is drive up to them head-on, until my front end is just inches away. So they cannot turn and block right of way traffic. As they reverse, I also inch forward .. until such that they near the end of the traffic line, that's the time I let-up. I am more pleased when the commotion gets the attention of the buwaya traffic enforcers, sigurado huli lahat na nag counterflow.

[IMm29]

Re: conterflow drivers ... what I really like to do is drive up to them head-on, until my front end is just inches away. So they cannot turn and block right of way traffic. As they reverse, I also inch forward .. until such that they near the end of the traffic line, that's the time I let-up. I am more pleased when the commotion gets the attention of the buwaya traffic enforcers, sigurado huli lahat na nag counterflow.

Oh I wish I could do this. In my case, what I commonly get are counterflowing motorcycles along Libertad and Sheridan streets in Mandaluyong. Dahil traffic ang direksyon nila, plus maliit sila with some space to fit, pipilitin nila. I usually stick to my lane, which is closer to the center than to the side. Naaawa ako sa side mirror ko though, kung tamaan ang helmets nila. Kaya I would have wanted to install a steel pipe/bar below my side mirror. Hehehe! Saves the side mirror housing. Ang sumalubong, baliktad! Will work for opposing cars side mirrors as well.

[shadow]

Unfortunately in villages and schools, they've wised up to the lamination practice. All cars are required to be physically present in the village office for stickers to be personally placed on by the village people (with plate number printed on).

And yes, it pays to be friendly to the village guards and give them with small tokens from time to time.

This, hinde pwede I laminate Ang village stickers dahil tao mismo ng association maginstall Kung para Saan mo kotse binili.

Pag meron party Sa bahay tumtawag Ako Sa guard house at nagpapapuntz ng guarc para bigyan sila ng food. Para hinde na rin ma hassle mga visitors pag pasok
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[shadow]

Yun Sa village ng friend ko Sa QC, bawal magpark ng overnight sa street, umiikot yun guard then binibigyan ng ticket... may bayad overnight parking Sa street


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[vinj]

Yun Sa village ng friend ko Sa QC, bawal magpark ng overnight sa street, umiikot yun guard then binibigyan ng ticket... may bayad overnight parking Sa street


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Ganyan din sa village namin, with the exception of the street i live in. Kaya makikita mo yung iba, naka park na sa garden ang kotse nila (at least ginagawan ng paraan).

Yung iba naman, they can afford to own and maintain 5-7 vehicles yet they still complain about having to pay for the additional stickers, or they don't get stickers at all (every other year lang kung magpalit).