Bad driving habits that are acceptable in the Philippines

With Philippine roads and traffic as bad as it is already, it does not make sense to make it worse for everyone else. Just because someone doesn’t honk at you the next time you cut them off, doesn’t mean that he or she isn't fuming at the tactlessness of the action. 

In all seriousness, it is important to practice good driving habits. Safety is a good mindset to follow, but the team at Autodeal believes that being a good motorist must go beyond keeping yourself, and your car safe from harm.

Respect is earned, and not given. It is also good to respect other motorists on the road by following rules and regulations. This should also extend to pedestrians and properties as well. It is very easy to dehumanize a person when they are inside a motor vehicle. By nature we tend to produce assumptions and prejudices when we are behind the wheel of a car. Add to that the perception of aggressive and close proximity driving that is prevalent in the Philippines and it is easy for one to immediately assume that the person in front, behind, or beside you is looking for a target to trample and cut off on their way to work. Nobody is better than the other. As said before, traffic is the great equalizer. We are all equal on EDSA whether we drive something as bespoke as a Rolls Royce, or as common as a Toyota Vios. 

Think about it this way, when you go out on the road with a hunk of metal that is likely over 1,000 kgs, you become a liability to anyone and everyone around you. No matter how safe you are, there is always a risk that you pose to your fellow man with a car. 

Again the title may have drawn you in, but let’s take a page to appreciate fellow motorists in their commute to work. Practice good temperament and follow rules and etiquette on the roads of Metro Manila and beyond. Take a page out of the German playbook – licensing is a lengthy process that ensures that motorists are disciplined and respectful in any scenario. Let it go the next time someone cuts you off because you know better. In a country where we cannot inform every motorist about the best course of action, it is much easier to start with ourselves, – author included – when it comes to driving safely and respectfully. Again, I am no saint, but mindfulness goes a long way even if it is a few moments from time to time for now. 

Drive safely and respectfully. Happy April Fool’s!