Traffic in Manila is crazy and dangerous especially for pedestrians trying to cross roads even on a crosswalk. Yesterday that danger became a reality for me and I got hit by an armored truck on the crossway.
In today’s vlog, I share my unfortunate and traumatizing experience of getting hit by a car while walking in BGC, Manila. As millions of Filipinos commute daily in the greater metropolitan area, this has led to reckless driving and complete disregard for traffic regulations, putting pedestrians at risk. In this video, we discuss the importance of pedestrian safety, the rules and regulations stated by the Land Transportation Office, and my personal encounters with reckless drivers in Manila. Join the conversation and let us know if you’ve experienced something similar, and let’s all work together to make our roads safer for everyone.
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44 Comments
The Philippine government should strictly implement pedestrian laws all over the Philippines and put heavy penalties or fines to all reckless and irresponsible drivers who are guilty of breaking this law. It is time for a drastic change on road safety and security in the Philippines.
That have to be changed . When drivers see pedestrians crossing the road or at the pedestrian already.. drivers must give way to all pedestrians and drivers can proceed when is clear to do so. Someone should raise this issues to LTO for the safety of everyone.
Because many drivers didn’t learn from driving school. Most of them were just taught by someone, not professionally. They don’t drive defensively, no knowledge of what’s in the manual. Honking is very common in the Philippines. That is why the balikbayans do not dare to drive in the Philippines anymore because we get used to driving abroad, more disciplined and we really follow the rules. Sadly, that’s not the case in the Philippines.
Oh my!
Law enforcement is nowhere to be seen in these parts these days. It's each to his own right now… in everything, everywhere in this country. This country has always favored only motorized vehicles and nothing for cyclists and pedestrians. BGC is not exempted from this anarchy on the road. It is much worse elsewhere.
Most Filipino drivers are idiots.
That's one of the horrible things in the Philippines, horrible drivers who actually don't know anything about traffic rules they are just suggestions and anyone can get drivers license under the table, that's why be extra careful always think they dont know what they are doing… like never trust any driver in the road, heck even true anywhere in the world.
I do that blocking 2 lanes too. In my area, the motorcyclists are the more dangerous ones. They have their own space in their heads that only their time is important, only they are important… they RARELY stop for pedestrians. The worse reality is that THERE IS NO ONE EVER CAUGHT for violating basic traffic rules. If someone will do a study on the mental state of people who have to commute, walk etc everyday, I am sure it will be a heartbreaking result.
There are many drivers/riders in PH who don't know the Law about Pedxing. Maybe some are uneducated, or newly arrived in MM, or for some attitudes that when learnt few things think that have learned alot of things already (a knows all guy). Better to extend your hands ahead of your body, signalling your hand to stopping them and that you insist to cross the pedxing. You still need to do this even if you're crossing on pedxing coz many drivers are ignorant with this policy.
This pedxing rules should be included in the trainings for new drivers. But the problem here is, many drives here who hadn't took formal training from a driving schools. So this makes these drivers still incapable of driving effectively.
The next time this happened to you (anyone), better take the plate number, and report immediately to nearest police station, state the street, location and the time of the accident.
Each city can generate funds and curve Filipino drivers attitude if their Police start ticketing erring drivers that don't yield to pedestrians. This is eay to impose but also need to curve corrupt cops.
Very good point Mike the drivers in the Philippines are very reckless and stop light are ignored RED means STOP and still they go and drive and lines are not followed they switch lanes all the time and drive out of the lanes and that I don’t understand .. that should be address ASAP !!! I really don’t understand why it still happening ! I was born in the Philippines before we migrated in the U.S in 1978 and every time we go home it’s still the same ways on how those drivers drive like maniac in the streets without respect of LIFE ! You & Grae should really be CAREFUL in CROSSING the streets I should say you write at the Transportation Commission about that and they should be STRICTER IN GUIDELINES ON HOW TO DRIVE AND WITH RESPECT TO PEDESTRIANS AND OVER ALL HUMAN BEINGS !❤️😍I’m glad that you both didn’t get hurt 🙏
Wow, sorry to hear and I'm glad you're okay! Pedestrians always have the right of way here in the US, and I'm sure that's everywhere! Perhaps the government should focus on policing these reckless and impatient drivers and start giving tickets for reckless driving! It’ll be a win-win for everyone – the pedestrians (citizens & tourists) will be safer crossing the streets – the government will get extra revenues to use for additional safety precautions all over the country! Good luck guys, stay safe everyone including the reckless and impatient drivers out there!
The only way people will learn is to make the penalty really stiff, like revoke license and or happy hefty fine. Also, government puts out and ad to remind the driving public of the law and the repercussion for disobedience to the stated law
I live in the Quezon city and also i am a beginner driver. What i get notice here, people in the Philippines completely doesn't know traffic regulation rules, they are driving by intuition. They can't recognised where is auxiliary road and where is the main road. Doesn't know priorities of moving at the road.Pedestrian road for them it's like nothing. But also some pedestriants are passing road in the middle of the road and thinks it's okay. Mostly people so good handle a car, quickly find them place in the flow, so quickly do parking but they are not able to drive by rules. Because old drivers got license when there is no strict requirements to pass exams and not any theoretical courses. But new generation of people completely familiar with regulations coz now LTO is getting more strict to give license, people able to pass all completely (theory and practice).
THE FILIPINO DRIVERS KNOWS ONLY HOW TO HIT THE GAS AND BREAK , THE ROAD RULES THEY DON'T CARE SPECIALLY THE PEDESTRIAN LANES. MOST OF THEM GOT THEIR LICENCES UNDER THE TABLE . SO WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THOSE STOOOPEED PEOPLE?
Its always happen kulang sa diciplina karamihan ng mga driver. Lalo na yung mga jeepney hays. Mga siga ng daan. Nahinto mismo sa pedestrian para mag baba ng pasahero. Ayaw mag ingat sa mga natawid. Ang sarap tadyakan sasakyan blocking pedestrian mga wala kasing alam na priority ang natawid kumpara sa kanila. Daming balasubas na driver. Ang layo sa ibang bansa.
For me, Baguio and Subic are the last bastions of traffic discipline in Luzon. Baguio locals and Subic locals always give way to pedestrians on crosswalks. In fact, you can easily spot a non-local or a tourist there by the way they drive and disrespect the crosswalks.
In the PH the pedestrian is being bullied by the drivers , rude . They don’t respect and prioritize pedestrians . There should be great consequence for reckless driver . Nakaka highblood , sarap sapakin 😂. Next time take a video of their violation , get the plate number and report it to LTO or Police . Imagine they have the audacity to promote tourism and want to attract investor , they cannot even discipline the drivers . When i was still living in the PH I don’t have the insight and perspective on how a society should behave in order to achieve a better quality of life , not until I move abroad to migrate , I can see and feel the difference . The problem is the enforcement and implementing the laws and the mindset and discipline of the citizen . I suggest they should teach mindfulness subject in schools 😂, just like the Japanese .
The PNP is not doing it's job keeping people safe. They need to do their job or quite and find someone who will.
stop vlogging while your walking period
Time to clamp up on bad driving habits.
Oh! Same here in texas omg! Im sure theyre drunk or under drugs? When i was in EU, drivers there were so careful unless theyre drunk!
The Gov. must put a law which drivers must be scared
Its better take photo the Car Numner and report this or ask help to report to Raffy Tulfo to do action for this situation.
As a non Filipino in the Philippines, where I have been coming since 1963, and having see or heard, of it happening to them , I have always expected the unexpected, I feel that's the only reason I have not had any kind of incedent and seeing what is happening daily, I see a need more and more keep that idea. It works for me.
How can government combat this since “most of the time” as long as there’s payment no need to fully check if drivers are aware of the rules! Same as some vehicles are smoke belching “worse very black smoke” but was able to get a renewal of vehicle registration… so hope you got my point there. Again, not always and not all the time.
Same issue and same problem… I even look at the driver and point with anger my almost bumping me while on pedestrian
Funny enough same happened to me in exact same spot in Bgc and i gave the guy a good middle finger and moved on in life . Couple months ago I was dropping wife off to work and saw two motorcyclist laying on street after accident and bunch of enforcers crowding around them not doing anything (they dont give first aid before an ambulance arrives!!!) can take a while with the ambulance , lol … Our lives are not worth same here as in first world accept it or leave for good a culture is something you cant change you have to adapt
Hi Mike! Sorry, that you had a bad experience of almost getting hit by a car. Some people said that raising your hand to make a sign
that you are crossing the street to the driver helps. One vlogger mentioned it & he said that it does help & haven't had an issue who
also lives in BGC .Maybe, it will make you feel much safer next time.
Such a shame driving rules here in phillipines sucks. Most drivers didn't actually study what exactly road rules are. Some countries they are not allowed to get a driver's license without studyin and getting an exam. FILIPINO DRIVER'S SOME OF U SUCKS. 🙄
There are a bunch of reckless drivers in the phils. It's true. But I refuse to believe otherwise that pinoys are unkind. As a local, you have to keep your eyes on a swivel at all times
Traffic enforcer should enforce this laws about the right of way for the pedestrians, the government should do something about this for the safety of the people
What is needed are registration plate recognition technologies put in place to capture these events and fine those who don’t yield.
Good thing you highlighted this Mike. Everytime we come home to the Philippines, this also becomes our big issue. We feel so nervous crossing a pedestrian and it shouldn’t be the case. Obviously Filipino drivers need to be educated about this particular traffic rule that they are violating. I know Filipinos are better than this. !!! Good call Mike.
Thats the thing that I hate in manila. In Davao in completely opposite, the motorist have to stop otherwise they gonna be arrest be the police. Davao is a bit strict .
Happen to me when I was riding my motor bike. Actually several time. But never do that when I drive my car. I respect other riders. WE must be careful at all time. Thanks for sharing your bad experience. GOD Bless stay safe.
scary to cross there.
Please give us time to adopt to proper road courtesy we Filipinos,we apologize to you.please give us time…we don't mean to be rude to our foreigner Friends….so sorry about that
Whenever i had to cross a pedestrian xing, I always have to raise my hand up and do a stop sign while walking coz you never know what some motorists are thinking really.
In the province it's different. I always see kids on the road or someone standing in the road looking at their phone. People walking in the road, and they have no fear. The drivers always yield to the pedestrians. Traffic will be slow, but safe. In the USA lots of pedestrians get run over every day. I would not want to walk in the USA across a highway crosswalk
THIS IS WHAT I HATE IN MY OWN COUNTRY!LGU SHOULD BE STRICK IN THIS BY LAW FOR THOSE DRIVERS WHO LACK RESPECT TO PEDESTRIANS!!I DONT KNOW WHY GOVT. OFFICIALS DONT CARE PEDESTRIANS SAFETY!!IM FURIOUS TO THOSE DRIVERS WHO LACKED DISCIPLINE WHEN IT COMES TO ROAD COURTESY!!!😡
Hello Sir Mike, My father and I were in the middle of the crosswalk in Makati. My father was 85 years old, and needs assistance in walking. he was holding on to my arm, while I had his cane. This SUV with a plate number 8 , accelerated, cutting us, and missing us by inches. He wasn't going anywhere cause he hit a red light . So I walked up to the SUV and whacked the SUV with my father's cane. The driver came out, …and I blasted him with curses. He seemed to reach for his gun…but someone in the car ordered him to leave. Everyone knows the plate number 8, is assigned for people in government. Vehicles with government plates run around the country like the own the road…. and disregard public safety.
You know PH is really not a safe country when a supposed safe place turns out to be not…
Some Filipino drivers ignore pedestrian crossing. Good for you that you were not hurt.