TRAFFIC, not driving 55mph anymore

My brother in law would like driving here.  He is an aggressive driver in the Kansas City area (no offense, Rick :) hehehe).  Here you have to be a defensive and agressive offensive driver.  You have to take your spot on the road and claim it as yours. 

You have to watch out for people, pedalcabs,  motorcycle, trikes, jeepneys, other vehicles, dogs, cats, goats, chickens, ducks, water buffalos and other distractions.  People have a tendency not to pay attention to what they are doing.  We have had children run in front of us.  We have had motorcycles pull out of side streets in front of us.  We have had all sorts of vehicles weave side to side in their lanes.

Motorcycles weaving through Herds of goats on the road                  

Buses are the king of the road here.  They appear to operate under GTR (gross tonage rules).  Tailgating and passing at will.  Using their horn and flashing their lights letting you know they are coming through.

Intersections are rarely marked with control signs.  Street signs are rare as well as highway signs.  Speed limit signs are far and few between.  No pass zones are marked however, they are merely suggestions with what other control signs that are found.

With all of this going on and because of the speed of the various vehicles, you do a lot of passing.  You have to watch oncoming traffic, side traffic, pedestrian traffic, various animals and of course people passing you.  Always check behind you before you try to pass another.

 Construction zones are not like in the United States where construction areas are well marked and controlled.   Here in the Philippines, there is usally a sign at the beginning of the zone, with no warning, saying lane closed.  There is rarely any traffic direction control methods through the zone.  You are on your own to make sure no one is coming towards you before you enter the zone.  Of course, you need to make sure no one is trying to pass you before you enter the zone.  If you get caught in the zone and think you need to back up to give right of way, do not back up.  There is probably somebody on your bumper that you did not see.  Occasionally, there will be a flag man.  Along with the flag man will be kids flagging you through.  Probably the flag man's kids.

School parades, Scouts, funerals and parades for various saints will be on the highway at any given time.

Nighttime driving is worse.  Take all of the above and add no lights to vehicles and pedestrians and you have the worst driving scenario.  And for some reason, some drivers do not like turning on their lights, unless they are flashing them at you for some unknown reason.  I, Flor, thinks there should be an ordinance requiring vehicles, bikes, trikes, motorcycles and the like to turn their lights on at dusk.  Maybe I should present that to the Sanguniang Panlalawigan specially at this time when election is coming up.

With all this said, the view, however, can't be beat anywhere you go.  We found some roads that are less traveled.  There is one road that we use often that runs along the beach.  Any distractions are easily handled since you have to go slow on this road and almost always you are the only one on the road.  And the view is breathtaking.

Since our vehicle is not automatic, I decline to drive it so Michael does all the driving.  I am afraid because of how people drive here and the tons of distractions along the road, I might get confused  with the clutch and gas pedals and will end up in a wreck.  I kind of miss driving so I am hoping we will upgrade or buy another one with an automatic transmission soon.

Michael teases me a lot about how most Americans when they come to the Philippines, they have Filipino drivers.  In our situation it is the other way around, I have an American driver :)

Well, it's time to park for now.  As always, thanks for following and until our next blog, may the Lord richly bless you and yours as He has us.