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Make Driving A Little More Fun And Safer
What every Filipino driver should know
Be a safer driver.
Make the Philippines more fun to drive in.
Yabee Dee Eusebio
Counter-flowing, beating the red light, not using the signal
light – unruly drivers rule the roads in the Philippines, especially in its
capital.
Be it due to lack of awareness or
self-entitlement, this has to stop soon, if not now.
As such, here are a few things every Filipino
driver should know that could make driving around our streets a little more fun
(and safer, of course).
Blocking the Pedestrian lane
Did you know that it’s illegal to
block the pedestrian lane?
Apart from potentially putting people
in harm’s way, cars blocking pedestrian lanes are violating Land Transportation
and Traffic Code Article IV, Turning and Parking, Section 46 (b).
It states that “no driver shall park
a vehicle, or permit it to stand, whether attended or unattended, on a crosswalk
a.k.a. pedestrian lane”.
What if the red light catches you
stopped on the crosswalk?
Well, to avoid any kind of
misunderstanding between you and the law, it would be best to stop before the
pedestrian lane and wait until you have enough space to move forward.
Counter-flow
Traffic here in the Philippines can
be time consuming that some impatient drivers tend to illegally counter-flow,
endangering the lives of others and their own.
According to the Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority (MMDA), this violation, which is properly called ‘Driving
Against Traffic’, will set you back P2,000 for each offense.
In addition, it will get your
driver’s license suspended for three months for the first offense, six months
for the second, and revocation for the third violation.
No matter how late you are, please
resist the urge to illegally counter-flow. Follow the law and spare others from
damage to property, injury or, worse, death.
Overtaking on a blind corner
Overtaking on a blind corner is one
of the most dangerous traffic violations a driver can do.
Why? Simply because it’s almost
impossible for traffic on either side of the road to see if anything is coming.
Instead of playing Russian roulette
and having a head-on collision, why not be patient?
Wait until you’re sure that there are
no approaching cars on the opposite lane and that you have sufficient time and
distance to overtake safely.
Brake checking
No, this isn’t when you get your car
checked for preventive maintenance.
Brake checking happens when a driver
deliberately brakes hard in front of another vehicle, forcing the vehicle
behind to react quickly or swerve to avoid a collision.
This is usually done in retaliation
to another driver as a “lesson”.
Its definition alone sounds like a
dangerous move to do, especially on the congested roads of the Philippines.
It also violates the Land
Transportation and Traffic Code Article III, Signals on Starting, Stopping, or
Turning, Section 44 (a).
In essence, it says that any vehicle
before starting, stopping, or turning on a highway from a direct line must give
a clear audible and/or visible signal in a safe manner.
Think twice or even thrice when you
want to make a statement on the road — lives are always at stake.
Beating the red light
With the worsening traffic situation
in the Philippines, it’s no wonder that drivers try to beat the red light to
get where they need to.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t just
contribute to the traffic problem but also endangers lives.
Slow down when you see an
intersection and, if the traffic light shows red, then stop. The time spent
behind the red light could spell the difference between life and death.
Not using turn signals
Turn signal lights – it’s there for a
reason and, sadly, not everyone knows how or when to use it.
It gives other drivers ample time to
provide the proper distance and speed for you to switch lanes or turn left or
right safely.
Those who don’t use turn signal
lights could force other drivers to react abruptly and may cause an accident.
If you see a car using its turn
signal lights, don’t speed up. Rather, slow down and give way to allow the car
to turn or enter into your lane safely.
Obey the law of the road, give way,
and be patient on the road no matter the situation.
Hopefully these will help you become
a safer driver on the road that will help make driving in the Philippines
better and safer for everyone.
Yabee Dee Eusebio
CONTENT WRITER
Yabee’s passion for cars was first influenced
by his Dad who was an avid WRC and Formula 1 fan. Today, he’s a guy who loves
to drive, write, and take photos.
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