Things I'm learning – Driving in the PI

I'm sure you've heard the slogan "It's not just a job. It's an adventure." In my opinion this should be the mantra for the professional drivers here in the Philippines. I'm sure there are other places in the world where what I've experienced is considered a cake walk, but I haven't been there and have no plans to visit. I have learned a small bit since starting to drive here and would like to share these “Rules of the Road” with others just in case you come to visit and find yourself behind the wheel.

Rule #1 – Dotted lines on the road are only a suggestion on the number of lanes. It has been my experience that two marked lanes could really be three...and if you count the motorcycles that would make four to five lanes. In all fairness, this only seems to happen during really busy times of the day and occurs less often near downtown Manila. Also, the direction of traffic in the lanes may very depending on the time of day. Coming back from the airport early one morning I discovered that one of the two lanes heading out of Manila had been confiscated by oncoming traffic so we were left with only one lane out.

Rule #2 – Flashing your lights and honking your horn is not impolite but expected. Several years ago while here on a short term trip I witnessed a huge Semi flash its brights and then proceed to turn into oncoming traffic. I thought the driver was insane and abusing his rights as the biggest machine on the road, but I have come to learn that this is common practice. There are very few stop lights and if you need to cut across traffic you flash your brights to notify the oncoming traffic of your intent and slowly edge your way in. Most people will stop and give you way but if they don't want to you to turn then they will flash their lights back letting you know they aren't stopping. Usually when traffic is heavy (which seems to be most of the time) people will honk there horn to let you know they are passing so that you won't vier into their lane. The Jeepney drivers also honk their horn when they are looking to pick up a passenger. Needless to say there is a lot of honking going on. I'm afraid I will grow deaf to the noise and side swipe a car or trike (a motorcycle with a side car for public hire) one of these days.

Rule #3 – Small guys almost always have the right of way. It has been explained to me that motorcyclists always have the right of way. Even though they weave in and out of traffic inches from smacking your side mirrors, if you hit one you're most likely going to be at fault. The best advice I've been given is to always be on the watch for them. Thankfully our new mini van has huge side mirrors which give a really good view of passing bikes.

Rule #4 – Give an inch and loose a mile. I have learned quickly that you have to claim your space on the road. If you leave room between you and the car ahead of you then someone will cut in or through. Again this mostly applies during really heavy traffic, but if you want to get from point A to B...DON'T LEAVE A GAP!

Rule #5 – Avoid night travel as much as possible. Just a really good rule to stay safe and sane. Out where we live there are thousands (no exaggeration) of pedestrians and they don't wear reflectors or light colored clothes. We drove one night to the grocery store at dusk and it was dark when we were heading home. It was like trying to drive down Main Street on the Fairgrounds during the State Fair (If you've ever been to the IL State Fair you know what I mean). Large numbers of children and adults all over the place. It seems that the reason this happens is because the homes in the villages are so packed together that the only flat open ground to play or congregate on is the street so that's where everyone congregates.

Valerie has also had a taste of Philippine driving. I was afraid she wouldn't attempt it after she was given instructions on what to do if she ever hit a person or animal and killed them. She asked if they were joking and they said no. If you kill someone don't stop and help because their relatives will feel obligated to kill you. You drive to the nearest police station and tell them what happened. If you are sure you didn't kill them then it is OK to stop and pick them up and take them to the nearest hospital. Be prepared to pay out a whole lot of money. It has been compared to winning the lottery here when an American hits someone and doesn't kill them.

These are the rules I have learned so far. I'm sure there is more schooling to come and I'll have plenty more to write about. This week we hope to go and apply for our Filipino driver's licenses and I doubt most of this will be on the test. The best advice I have been given for how to survive driving here is to believe that everyone on the road has a death wish and they want to use you as their instrument of destruction. Keep a 360 degree awareness of your surroundings and pray for God's grace.

As for me....I plan to avoid high traffic hours like the plague!