Popular Post Onemore52 Posted January 30, 2020 Popular Post Posted January 30, 2020 A couple of days ago there was an accident involving a tricycle and a bus here where I am, the original report was a bit hazy but just said that 2 people on the tricycle lost their lives in the accident, which was caused by the tricycle avoiding a tree root on the road, and of course there were people replying to the report saying that the buses go too fast and they should show more road manners to other road users, seriously. Last week I caught a bus back to the province from Manila at midnight and the only seat available was a single seat behind the driver on the right hand side, usually I prefer down the back so I don't see what is coming. So I saw first hand what these drivers have to put up with, motorcycles coming out at them left and right, people walking on the road at midnight, cars running red lights, you all know what I am talking about, it's a wonder the drivers aren't nervous wrecks by the time they get to their destination, and there are 2 drivers on this trip swapping over half way. This morning video footage of the accident was shown, how it got there I don't know, but it showed the tricycle veering across the centreline into the path of the bus, and a sub heading saying the driver of the tricycle was drunk. I keep telling my partner not to drive at night when she goes out with her girlfriends, to stay at her parents place in town because there are so many drunks, or people on drugs driving around this town at night, maybe she will take note now. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RBM Posted January 30, 2020 Posted January 30, 2020 I somehow doubt it will make any difference, hope I am wrong. Somehow the can't happen to me syndrome seems to kick in. Rarely drive at night for reasons described above pedi cabs without lights, pedestrians crossing street without looking, especially bad if wearing black...Safer grab a grab..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum Support Tommy T. Posted January 30, 2020 Forum Support Posted January 30, 2020 (edited) 24 minutes ago, RBM said: Safer grab a grab..... Not necessarily so... L and I were headed to the NAIA last year way early in the morning - I think 2 or 3 am? We had the hotel request a Grab. The guy picked us up promptly and proceeded to take us from Makati to the airport. The car was nice and he seemed okay, but he was not okay. He started to drift a bit across lanes on the expressway and his head was nodding - no alcohol smell, so maybe fatigue or drugs? Anyway, he slowed down in the right lane gradually until almost stopped. We spoke loudly to him to wake him up a few times. He finally did and we safely made it to the airport. No tip for that boy and we hope he made it safely wherever he was going... However, after having said that, I do agree with you and try to drive only when really necessary at night. It is much more dangerous for a foreigner - especially if anything bad happens. Edited January 30, 2020 by Tommy T. 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary D Posted January 30, 2020 Posted January 30, 2020 I dislike driving after dark but struggle to impress this on the wife. With the heavy tints vision is seriously degraded plus with all of the idiots out there driving in the dark is a lottery. Drive in the day is full of fun at the best of times. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum Support Tommy T. Posted January 30, 2020 Forum Support Posted January 30, 2020 21 minutes ago, Gary D said: full of fun at the best of times. And full of terror at the worst!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manofthecoldland Posted January 30, 2020 Posted January 30, 2020 3 hours ago, Tommy T. said: Not necessarily so... L and I were headed to the NAIA last year way early in the morning - I think 2 or 3 am? We had the hotel request a Grab. The guy picked us up promptly and proceeded to take us from Makati to the airport. The car was nice and he seemed okay, but he was not okay. He started to drift a bit across lanes on the expressway and his head was nodding - no alcohol smell, so maybe fatigue or drugs? Anyway, he slowed down in the right lane gradually until almost stopped. We spoke loudly to him to wake him up a few times. He finally did and we safely made it to the airport. No tip for that boy and we hope he made it safely wherever he was going... However, after having said that, I do agree with you and try to drive only when really necessary at night. It is much more dangerous for a foreigner - especially if anything bad happens. Not sure if this applies to Grab as well, but most of my MNL cab drivers (4 per year, to and fro airport runs/hotel) that I talk with about their job, report very long shifts. If I recall correctly (probable, but not 100% certain at the moment), I was told their 24 hr. cab rental ('boundary') was P1500. Many have a partner who split it up with 12/12, but some do not... and grab some shut-eye in the back seat at either a slow demand period or when they're near their limit. My last driver told me that he goes home to family by a 4 or 6 hr bus trip only on weekends and that his back really bothers him from sleeping in the back seat.... maybe at the cab garage or something. He only starts making a wage after the costs of the boundary and fuel are surpassed . I usually tip P50 to P100+ on my P190-230 meter trips and always promise them a P50 bonus right at the start. Sets a good mood up for some friendly discourse. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum Support Tommy T. Posted January 30, 2020 Forum Support Posted January 30, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, manofthecoldland said: Not sure if this applies to Grab as well, but most of my MNL cab drivers (4 per year, to and fro airport runs/hotel) that I talk with about their job, report very long shifts. If I recall correctly (probable, but not 100% certain at the moment), I was told their 24 hr. cab rental ('boundary') was P1500. Many have a partner who split it up with 12/12, but some do not... and grab some shut-eye in the back seat at either a slow demand period or when they're near their limit. My last driver told me that he goes home to family by a 4 or 6 hr bus trip only on weekends and that his back really bothers him from sleeping in the back seat.... maybe at the cab garage or something. He only starts making a wage after the costs of the boundary and fuel are surpassed . I usually tip P50 to P100+ on my P190-230 meter trips and always promise them a P50 bonus right at the start. Sets a good mood up for some friendly discourse. Yeah... I hear you. I drove a taxi for about half a year. One of the worst jobs I ever had. My days sounded a lot easier than what these guys endure - only 12 hour shift for me 3 pm - 3 am, six days a week. No rent, just drove the company car and didn't have to pay for gas. So I drove the hell out of the Plymouth 440 ex-police car turned taxi. Few tips in Bremerton Washington from poor sailors or marines, but then they made smaller wages than me. Mine ended up averaging about minimum wage - good nights/bad nights all added up to average... Great job for a 4-year college grad! I always tip service people - especially taxi drivers - unless their service is poor... Edited January 30, 2020 by Tommy T. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimeve Posted January 30, 2020 Posted January 30, 2020 4 minutes ago, Tommy T. said: Yeah... I hear you. I drove a taxi for about half a year. One of the worst jobs I ever had. My days sounded a lot easier than what these guys endure - only 12 hour shift for me 3 pm - 3 am, six days a week. No rent, just drove the company car and didn't have to pay for gas. So I drove the hell out of the Plymouth 440 ex-police car turned taxi. Few tips in Bremerton Washington from poor sailors or marines, but then they made smaller wages than me. Mine ended up averaging about minimum wage - good nights/bad nights all added up to average... I always tip service people - especially taxi drivers - unless their service is poor... I was a taxi driver for 12 months. Bought a Minivan (blackcab) so I did my own hours to suit. Had plenty of dickheads who did a runner and drunks who forgot where their Hotel was and name of hotel and pukers I could go on and on. Ended up with 6 penalty points for speeding another 3 and I would face a ban, but that was my fault, 3 am and on a country road and speed camera hid away from view. sold the taxi and went back to Decorating houses. Less stressful. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum Support Tommy T. Posted January 30, 2020 Forum Support Posted January 30, 2020 10 minutes ago, jimeve said: I was a taxi driver for 12 months. Bought a Minivan (blackcab) so I did my own hours to suit. Had plenty of dickheads who did a runner and drunks who forgot where their Hotel was and name of hotel and pukers I could go on and on. Ended up with 6 penalty points for speeding another 3 and I would face a ban, but that was my fault, 3 am and on a country road and speed camera hid away from view. sold the taxi and went back to Decorating houses. Less stressful. You will love this... I had a guy one time who was a bit drunk and asked me, "What will you do if I don't pay?" (He was a real jerk.) I said I would take him to the police station. He then reached for the door handle to get out, but it was a former police car without window cranks or door handles in the back. I headed for the police station and then he said, "Okay, okay, here! and paid me the meter fare." I laughed for half an hour after he got out! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum Support Mike J Posted January 30, 2020 Forum Support Posted January 30, 2020 I was riding the bus one time and smelled cigarette smoke. I wondered who in the hell is smoking on the bus??? I looked forward and the bus driver is smoking and also using his cell phone. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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