Hi, I'm Pinoy Driver. Im a Filipino, born, educated and live in the Philippines. One of my passions in life is driving. I have driven in a number of countries like the US, Switzerland, Germany and France to name a few. But of course I do most of my driving in my motherland, Metro Manila to be exact. Everyday I drive myself to work and as I start backing up from my garage, I always pray for as safe and stress free trip. I have been driving for more than 30 years and lately the chaos in the streets seem to get into my head. I always say, if the traffic is bad, then I am part of the problem. I contribute to the volume of cars in our very limited road space that we have. But is it just the volume of cars that is the problem? Like any major city, traffic volume is a menace. But what makes Metro Manila special is the culture in the streets that we have.
Ranked at 3rd in the world's worst place to drive, it is quite a hassle to get from point A to B. Who's at fault? The authorities or the drivers? Or maybe both. Here are my thoughts...
Driver's License
By definition, a license is an official or legal permission to perform or own a specified thing. This translates that a driver's license is a legal document of the state granted to an individual to have the authority to operate or drive a motor vehicle on state roads. I order to obtain a license in any country, there are certain qualifications and examinations to pass in order to assure the public that the operator of a motor vehicle is fit to drive it without posing any danger to others or himself. Pretty simple isn't it? Very simple, if you are applying for a driver's license in the Philippines. Sponge Bob, a character with the mind and IQ of a 3 year old perpetually couldn't qualify for a license. I would like to invite him here and I'd bet my next paycheck that he would be top of his class.
I remember during my teens when I was applying for the first time for my driver's license. Yes, it was a day to remember. My license to drive is one of the most awaited official document in life I got, more memorable than by college diploma from a prestigious university. It was also the easiest! I just walked in the Land Transportation Office (LTO), filled up a couple of forms, gave my picture and supporting documents and took the exam. A bit anxious if i would pass the exam since I did not study, (there was no pointers to study) I walked in a classroom with other candidates for licensure and to my surprise (and delight at that time), the questionnaire had answers already! All I had to do was lift them off to the answer sheet. Wholla! Perfect score! I was then time for the real test, the practicals! I was escorted to a vehicle by the examiner. My heart was pounding. Got up into the car and the examiner said "O, start mo na" (start the car). He then scribbled down a long checklist of competencies I have to perform as a real world driver. Waiting for his next instruction, he then said "Very good!" Thats it!? That long checklist with all the complicated instructions and competencies completed with flying colors with just one click of the ignition keys? Holy mother of %%%! Good for me! Just like that, I walked out with a license to kill. So did the dozens of others who were with me.
Ok, so I may be a bit skeptic about this, but won't it be a bit safer for everybody if all applicants go thru at least some sort of screening? Or will it hurt if we get some sort of education before being granted a Philippine driver's license? My dog can get one if only he had a birth certificate. The essence of licensing has been missed here. I would like to see the look of all jeepney drivers if the LTO would have everybody re credentialed.
Speeding
Speeding kills. That's a fact. But so does stalling and driving slower than the rest of the pack. It not only kills your time, but also everyone's who are driving behind you. If you want to waste your time, fine, but please don't waste mine. If you are lost, don't stay on the fast lane. Yes folks, there is a fast lane and it is supposed to be on the left. Go with the flow, even if it is slow. If 60kph is the limit, then there should also be a minimum. No, 20kph is not the right speed.
Stoplight
Intersections have to be governed by a device to prevent collisions because vehicles crossing the intersection travel in different directions. Because of this, vehicles must give way to others crossing. Did I say give way? Ok, so pinoys are not the give way people. So there is this device that governs this intersection. Its word is the law and shall be abided by everyone with no exception. This my friend is called a stoplight. Yes, in school we learned this, green is go, red is stop and yellow means green is coming to a red. Simple, even a goldfish can learn that. It is universal, and in no place on earth do I know of do stoplights have a different color. Folks, it is not a suggestion either. Red does not "request" you to stop. It orders you to do so. This includes you mr driver of the motorcycle, scooter and bicycle. It is for your own safety. Do I have to argue with anyone with this?
Mr MMDA officer, I appreciate that you turn off the stoplight when you want to manually herd traffic. Most of the time the light blinks yellow. But could you please put it back on when you go out for a break? It drives us all nuts! What drives me even berserk is when the one of the lights blows out. For someone who reaches the intersection with no lights on but is still working, it is quite a task to figure if it is the green bulb that is busted or the red one. Best solution, assume that it is green! There was this stoplight in Ortigas Ave, a major thoroughfare, that had a busted red light. If you pass there everyday, you would have figured out that no light means stop. Ok, but how about the newcomers? This went on for months. Seems that it would need an act of congress to decide on who's job it is to change the light and from whom will the bulb be purchased. But while the red tape of figuring out on how to change the bulb is going on, lets just hope that nothing bad happens.
Intersection somewhere in the metro with both green and red lights
on. In this country we always have a choice!
The Jeepney
If I were a teleporter and would randomly teleport myself randomly at any place on earth, I would look for signs or landmarks to tell me what country I am in. For example, if I teleport to France, the Eiffel Tower would be a giveaway. If i land in the Philippines, aside from the billboards which are a screaming clue that you are in Manila, the jeepneys on the streets tell me I am back home. Yes, that icon of Filipino ingenuity that has been the epitome of public transport since its birth after world war 2. Crafted from the army Jeeps that the Americans left, it has been a part of the Filipino heritage since then. The Jeepney has been a symbol of Filipino transportation for the masses, by the masses. It serves as the most affordable form of transport and provides business for the masses.
It has been almost 70 years since world war 2. Times change. Man has been to the moon. The cellular phone has become a necessity. The world wide web has access to more than half of the world's population. But the 70 year old jeepney is still the same. It creates a noise that could wake up the dead and emissions that could deplete ozone layer faster than the price of petrol goes up. Its standards of safety is so outdated because it appeared during a time when seat belts have not been invented yet. Today, this stainless contraption that annoyingly zips thru every main thoroughfare in the Philippines is the symbol of how bad our public transport system has become.
I must agree, to the rider, the jeepney is a convenient and cheap ride. You can be dropped off literally at any point of its route, this includes the middle of the street. But do we all have to stop every time a jeepney has to pick up someone? Does the traffic have to be bad because of the squabble between the jeepneys who can't fall in line? Do we have to put up with this third world form of transportation? The answer is yes. Why? Because nobody has the guts to do something about this problem. It would be political suicide for the trapo politician (traditional politician) like the mayor to even touch them.
Sabit means hanging on. Note that hanging on a jeepney does not exempt you from paying a fare. Every time you stop at a light, you will be crowded by so many motorcycles squeezing their way to the pole position.
