Driving in the Philippines

rod iddles wrote:

but us ozy's cant be as bad a drivers as these Filipino taxi drivers  lol

There is a lot less visible anger on roads in the Philippines than in Australia.

rod iddles wrote:

but us ozy's cant be as bad a drivers as these Filipino taxi drivers  lol

Not in the race by a long shot! I will never complain about Aussie drivers again!

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You have mentioned chambers before in your posts, what is it?  I am curious.

arty5987 wrote:

<..>NEVER  are you supposed to back into a parking space. You said it's easier to pull out??? <..> It's much easier to back out of a space into a larger main area... Common sense!

Its normal to reverse into car parking spaces.
It is illogical to drive forward in, and have to risk reversing out into oncoming cars
It's much easier to drive forwards out of a space where you can see the oncoming cars

It's interesting how different Nationalities see things differently

ABCDiamond wrote:

arty5987 wrote:

<..>NEVER  are you supposed to back into a parking space. You said it's easier to pull out??? <..> It's much easier to back out of a space into a larger main area... Common sense!

Its normal to reverse into car parking spaces.
It is illogical to drive forward in, and have to risk reversing out into oncoming cars
It's much easier to drive forwards out of a space where you can see the oncoming cars

It's interesting how different Nationalities see things differently

From Australia, too, and I don't think the majority of Australians reverse into parking spaces! Some do, yes, but I wouldn't say it is normal.

arty5987 wrote:

Illogical??? Really, think about it. You would rather take the chance of scratching or denting cars on either side of you rather than just backing out slowly into a more WIDE OPEN area. Unless maybe when you back out, You just floor the gas. Again... COMMON SENSE. Also, if there are cars behind you and you decide to back in, that means you have to go past that space, stop all the other cars and possibly have them all back up just so you can back your car in... Again.... COMMKN SENSE
       DRIVE WITH COMMON SENSE... Problem is not much if any is used in the Philippines.🙀

Being taught to reverse park when learning, and when everyone does it with ease, why change to a more complicated system of risking scratching the cars with the front end as you reverse out, at an angle.  Car parking spaces have small areas, never wide open spaces, so impossible to just reverse straight out.  We learn as new drivers how to reverse park, so why waste the learning?

Cars behind you expect to wait while parking anyway, it is the done thing.

COMMON SENSE really as you say.  But then again, in America, with its bigger parking spaces I suppose it is easier to do what you say, and not have to learn how to reverse park

arty5987 wrote:

To add a footnote... Do you know why we don't allow cars to back in a parking space? Did you ever notice there are usually these white cement bumpers to which you pull your car up to.

Different countries different things.

You don't allow cars to back in a parking space in the US ?
You have white cement bumpers ?

No, I had no idea.  Its a weird world isn't it

arty5987 wrote:

MORE complicated to forward park than reverse???.

It is more the complications of reversing out into incoming vehicles, and passing pedestrians, when vision is restricted by having to reverse, looking behind you, and still keep looking forward to ensure that you don't hit the cars parked next to you as you pull back, turning at an angle.

When you have reverse parked, you only need to look forward and drive straight out when leaving the parking space. So much easier.

When reverse parking, you drive past the spot, with indicator on to tell people what you are doing, moving or to the left to get the correct angle for a easy reverse into the parking spot.


However I did just read a US website that says: "The reverse parking manoeuvre has a reputation for being one of the most difficult test manoeuvres and as a result, fails a great many driving tests.".  I thought it was easy and common...

A well ordered UK car park

Not a single car parked incorrectly
Headlined: (Car owners have been told they must reverse into parking spaces at their offices)

Car Parks in the Philippines ?  Any road or pavement will do

ABCDiamond wrote:

arty5987 wrote:

To add a footnote... Do you know why we don't allow cars to back in a parking space? Did you ever notice there are usually these white cement bumpers to which you pull your car up to.

Different countries different things.

However I did just read a US website that says: "The reverse parking manoeuvre has a reputation for being one of the most difficult test manoeuvres and as a result, fails a great many driving tests.".  I thought it was easy and common...

I think that is referring to parallel parking, not reversing into spaces in carparks. Parallel parking is probably included in the driving test of most countries and for many people it is very difficult. Self-parking will no doubt fix that problem!

OzFreddie wrote:

I think that is referring to parallel parking, not reversing into spaces in carparks. Parallel parking is probably included in the driving test of most countries and for many people it is very difficult. Self-parking will no doubt fix that problem!

Good point.  Never considered that one.

arty5987 wrote:

showing  pictures doesn't really justify backing into s spot.

The picture isn't justifying it. but showing what is REQUIRED by that government department, and showing what is commonly done.

An Insurance companies view on Reverse Parking:

You might find it easier to drive straight into a space, but there are advantages to reversing in:

Safer– it's safer to reverse into a space you can see than reversing out into moving traffic that you can't see clearly.
Cheaper– reversing when your car is cold uses around 20 to 25% more fuel in the first few seconds.e
More secure– etc....  http://www.directline.com/car-insurance … ty/parking

arty5987 wrote:

Forward driving is still much easier. I guess that's why we Americans celebrate July 4th. Our Independence Day of 1776. Would not want to abide by those rules. 👍 Cheers!

I understand that.  That's the time you switched to the French style of travelling on the Right too, after the French assisted in American independence.

In the early years of English colonisation of North America, English driving customs were followed and the colonies drove on the left. After gaining independence from England, however, they were anxious to cast off all remaining links with their British colonial past and gradually changed to right-hand driving. Incidentally, the influence of other European immigrants, especially the French, should not be underestimated.

However, I agree that we should all accept that each other has their own preferential way of doing things and not put anyone elses way down as wrong.

Except for the driver who reversed out without looking yesterday and hit a child that he didn't see, and that child banged into his mother, who fell against my fiancee, who almost fell over, but scratched me as she grabbed me.
He should have reversed in, then would have had a clear view of driving out.

madhatter868 wrote:

The Philippine style of driving is somewhat similar  to the way they conduct their everyday life. With absolutely no regard  for what how their last maneuver in traffic will affect anybody else, nor do they care. But if you are a foreigner God Forbid the day you touch of them or their vehicle.To them, it is if they just won the lottery. Believe me you will pay regardless who fault it was, I guess the PNP reasoning is you are foreign which equals rich. And you need to share your money. A guy in the compound I live in hit a motorcyclist, in the early evening, killed the motorcyclist, it cost him a million peso's even though the guy had no lights, not one light front or back. He had witnesses but didn't matter, you must pay if you  are foreign. I wonder if they have heard the story about continuing going to the river, until the river went dry.

My gf nephew was shot dead, 6 shots in the face by a hit man because he hit a tricycle driver and put him in hospital without income. Both drivers were unlicensed, no insurance. Beware, my friends!

madhatter868 wrote:

The Philippine style of driving is somewhat similar  to the way they conduct their everyday life. With absolutely no regard  for what how their last maneuver in traffic will affect anybody else, nor do they care. But if you are a foreigner God Forbid the day you touch of them or their vehicle.To them, it is if they just won the lottery. Believe me you will pay regardless who fault it was, I guess the PNP reasoning is you are foreign which equals rich. And you need to share your money. A guy in the compound I live in hit a motorcyclist, in the early evening, killed the motorcyclist, it cost him a million peso's even though the guy had no lights, not one light front or back. He had witnesses but didn't matter, you must pay if you  are foreign. I wonder if they have heard the story about continuing going to the river, until the river went dry.

Not trying to sound flip with the reply, but considering the dangers of driving in the Philippines at night, why would you? In the case of emergencies, unless you are in a very rural area, transportation should be available. My wife and I absolutely do not drive at night for the reasons you listed and we also keep up to date numbers for transportation we can hire in case of emergency.

madhatter868 wrote:

In his case, he was an employed Expat working in the agri-business, just finished work and was on his way home he had his mishap. As far as driving at night, personally I refrain from doing it. If I have to go to the Airport or somewhere I just hire a van and a driver. I understand what your are saying, but the point of my story was not to talk about the actual driving, but the mindset of the locals.

Agreed, there is little respect for their and their families safety and less for others. It's a dangerous brew.