Expat Newspaper September 28-October 11 Issue
Guide to Driving in the Philippines
By Loraine Balita
Photos by Gerard Delos Santos and Nik Chaikhunpol
Are you one of those foreigners who are getting sick of taxi fares and taxi drivers who over charge you? Are you tired of dealing with your driver who cannot seem to get your directions right?
If you feel like you’re stuck in a rut, chained to your usual routine of hailing a cab to go to work or your early-morning throat exercise— trying to explain directions to your driver who apparently has a difficulty figuring out what you’re trying to say with that thick accent of yours, it could be time for you to take the wheel.
But before you jump in your car and start the engine, spare me a minute so I can introduce you to driving in my country. Drawn from almost 9 years of driving in some of the busiest and craziest roads and more than 20 years of watching the interesting albeit unwritten Philippine road rules, this comprehensive guide will take you out into the streets all while you’re glued to your seat.
Yes, you must have heard shocking stories about driving in the Philippines. From the antics of scary bus drivers to the unusual objects with wheels with whom you might have to share the road, I’m sure you have heard it all. I would have to admit that driving around here could get scary and the driving skills of Filipinos can frighten even the best F1 racers. But you should also know that there are a lot of expatriates here who, after awhile and a healthy dose of culture shock, finally got used to the streets and were able to adapt to the rules of the system.
One of them is 41-year-old Joe Serrao who has been living and driving in Zambales for 8 years. Originally from the US, Joe shares to Expat how driving here differs from driving in his home country. “Although the rules of the road in the Philippines are essentially the same as those in the States, there is still a marked difference between the two experiences,” he says. “I have also noticed that there seems to be much less "road rage" in the Philippines than in the states”.
He also noticed that here “Filipinos are used to sharing the road with tricycles, jeepneys and owner type jeeps that have a difference performance profile”. Joe, a former duty driver for the US Navy in Subic, advises expats to “slow down and remember the various types of vehicles that you are sharing the road with, from scooters to the dreaded buses”.
And just to give you an idea of the numerous vehicles and people expats like Joe would like to warn you about, I have now listed here the interesting characters you’ll meet while driving on our streets.
Watch Out for These
1. Huge vehicles getting too close for comfort
The ten-wheelers with their heavy containers and huge monstrous buses aren’t exactly the kinds of gentle giants you would want to get cozy with. I often think bus drivers are not fully aware of the size of their vehicles. The way they speed and squeeze their way through small spaces and occupy a lane and half makes me think they’re under the impression that they are driving Mini Coopers.
2. Pedestrians playing dodge car
It must really be a sport, and a fun one at that. Most drivers I talked to complain mostly about pedestrians who seemingly find it enjoyable to play ‘dodge oncoming traffic’. Just because you see an overpass doesn’t mean you can speed your way through. You will see pedestrians dodging cars, crossing the streets with the over pass right above them. Why they do that is mind boggling. But then again it could also be the weather, climbing these stairs up to the over pass in this hot humid weather could be such a drag and dodging cars for them is much more exciting.
3. Motorcycles playing bowling
You also would have to watch out for the hundreds of motorcycles traversing our streets. Their numbers have increased lately and some like playing bowling. Only that they’re the pins and I think you’re supposed to be the ball. You’d often see a swarm of motorcycles meeting you head on. I just am not sure if they really want to see how many of them you can knock over or that they think they have an invisible force field that’s supposed to repel oncoming traffic.
4. Pedicabs
Need I say more? The mere presence of these three-wheeled, plastic covered vehicles out on the streets is something to be worried about. Pedicab drivers pedal their way through traffic, squeeze their sidecars in the smallest available space between your car and that humongous bus, they can carry the bikes over islands and could appear out of nowhere. It’s amazing how some dare devils choose to ride these pedicabs everyday to go places even out on busy streets. I have experienced it once and do not have plans of trying it again soon. Although the experience could actually be fun for some, knowing that the only thing separating you from the roaring jeeps beside you is a thin plastic shade. Now isn’t that what you call adrenalin pumping? Who says you need to spend $80 to go bungee jumping. Try getting in on one of these and you’d get the same ‘oh-my-gosh-I- though- I- was- going- to- die’ kind of thrill.
5. Tour De Philippine
The world’s best known bicycle race has got nothing on this. Yes, we have that tour around here too. Watch out for cyclists who like tracing a route that passes through all available space in which they can fit their bikes. Like pedicabs, bicycles could appear out of nowhere and squeeze their way beside in front or behind you. While there are cyclists from legitimate groups in the Philippines who manage to stay IN the safe zone, there are, of course, a lot of people who jump on their bikes and manage to PEDAL their way through major thoroughfares completely oblivious to how much they’re putting their lives at risk.
6. Lane Blind Drivers
I wonder if they’re using a special kind of paint for lanes here that seem to be invisible to most drivers. You have to watch out for jeepney driver’s who switch lanes without using signals, and those who straddle lanes , opting to stay in the middle making it impossible for other cars to pass on either side. They must also be using magic paint on crosswalks because some drivers don’t seem to recognize its existence. Normally when you see those white markings on the pavement you have to let pedestrians cross because they have the right of way. Here however, you’ll see drivers speeding through these crossings not caring if there are pedestrians or not.
7. Amplified Morse Codes
You should also get yourself ready for a lot of beeping horns. Most Filipinos beep their car horns to signal that they’re coming, to make other people aware of their mood, to let the driver of the car in front of them know that they’re starting to get mad, and to actually argue with other drivers. It’s like an amplified sequence of Morse code only that you won’t be able to decipher exactly what everyone’s trying to say. You’ll get used to it eventually.
One good thing about all this though is that you wouldn’t get bored while waiting inside a parked car around here. I often make sure to park it in a spot that could afford me a nice view of the highway or a busy road. Watching jeepneys and buses go at it beats playing Tekken on my Play Station Portable. There’s always something worth watching.
I’m sure by now I’ve already painted a carnival like picture in your head, filled with bump cars of all sorts sans the rubber surrounding it, seemingly going nowhere and everywhere at the same time. While it might seem like driving in the Philippines is not for the faint of heart and foreigners who are not familiar with the rules and the Filipinos, there are actually expats like Leng Bugensperger who have learned to love driving in the Philippines.
Leng, originally from Singapore, enjoys driving here more than in any other country she has driven in. “I have driven in the U.S., Australia, Europe, Korea, Japan and Singapore….and I find driving in Manila the most enjoyable and interesting”. When she first started driving in Manila in 2004, she found the experience very daunting at first. But she, like all the others, got used to the system eventually. “I have discovered that there is actually a system to the driving etiquette here,” she shares. One good thing about driving in the Philippines for her is that in the Philippines if you run into any trouble “there will always be a kind and friendly Filipino who will be willing to take the time and trouble to help you”.
Like her, you too can get used to the system if you keep these sage advice and tips in mind
Survival Tips
1. Be very, very, very patient.
I cannot stress enough how patient you should be while driving around here. Most drivers are notorious for being aggressive. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there; only the strongest and most aggressive will survive or in this case, get to his/her destination on time. But there is absolutely no need to compete with them. It’s best to remain calm at all times. Even when a vehicle cuts in front of you, which happens a lot around here by the way, it’s best to keep a cool head. Always remember that patience will keep you out of trouble.
2. Practice UDD (Ultra-Defensive Driving)
My personal driving style of choice is ultra-defensive driving. Yes, I just made that phrase up but it has helped me survive the streets with just minor mishaps, like that time I drove too close to a man walking by the road I thought I caught his arm with my side mirror. Other than that I have been driving safely and have not been in any major accident in any shape or form. When driving defensively you might have to get used to driving slow. And it helps to be alert while driving too. Always assume that there’s some crazy man behind the wheel, in front, beside or behind you. It helps to be a bit paranoid around here.
3. Avoid Rush Hours
Rush hours in most cities during weekdays usually start at around 5:30 and last till around 8:30 in the morning. In the afternoon the much dreaded hours start at 5:00 pm and usually last till around 7:30 pm. I suggest avoiding these hours, but if you really must be out there during rush hours get yourself ready for major traffic. During rush hours here, cars literally inch their way through streets like a herd of turtles stampeding through peanut butter. You should always leave your house early if you plan to pass through some traffic-ridden roads.
4. Check your car’s fluids and AC
Check your car’s fluids before you leave and be sure to check your air-conditioning system regularly. The worst thing that could happen to you is to be stuck in jam packed EDSA (Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue) during rush hours with a busted AC.
5. Beware of Nocturnal Violators
According to some drivers I interviewed, more traffic rules are violated at night. More drivers run red lights more go into one way streets meeting on-coming traffic head on and more pedestrians cross the streets in no pedestrian crossing areas. So you have to be alert and aware of the increased chances of driving beside nocturnal traffic violators.
Getting the License
Just like how it is for any other country, a driver’s license is needed to drive a vehicle in the Philippines. You can use your foreign driver’s license if you have only been staying here for less than ninety days. Most car rental companies will allow you to rent a car and drive it on your own even with a tourist visa but only for 90 days after your date of arrival.
After 90 days according to Ilonor Madrid, Land Transportation Office (LTO) Central License Section Chief, “you need to go through the LTO process”. This means having your foreign driver’s license converted to a Philippine Driver’s license. The LTO issues all drivers’ licenses in the Philippines.
According to Noreen Donato, also from the LTO License Section, a foreigner with a valid driver’s license can have it converted to a Philippine driver’s license without taking the written or practical exam. Check the validity of your license because if you’re holding an expired foreign driver’s license you would have to gear up to take those tests
If you do not have a foreign driver’s license you would need to apply for a Philippine driver’s license. You can check the list of LTO offices in the LTO website (www.lto.gov.ph) to see if there’s a branch near you. Also found in their site is the list of requirements and procedures for foreign driver’s license conversion and application of Philippine driver’s license for foreigners. You can also call the LTO Central Licensing Section if you need help.
It’s best to familiarize yourself first with the road rules and to check with the local government of your province or city for regulations in your area. You can also look for Philippine road rules and regulations handbooks available in bookstores. Just make sure that it’s approved by the LTO and the Department of Transportation and Communication. And last but not least –it’s essential you buy a road map!
