Annoying Local Behavior

[BrettGC]

The way nothing is ever anyone's fault, particularly the person who is at fault.  Yes I get that sometimes "shit happens" and some things are genuinely an accident but the lengths your average Filipino will go to void having the finger pointed at them is an entirely different level.  You know they're lying, they know that you know as well, but... Well you all know what I mean.  Personal responsibility is an anathema here.  

Road use, specifically young filipinas on motorcycles/scooters.  Yes, we all know that near death experiences on the road are common here, whether you're driving or a pedestrian, we've all had a few - but I reckon I could safely say that 80% of incidents I've nearly had involve young filipinas being completely oblivious to anything going on around them to the point they'll look you in the eye as you approach and still a pull out in front of you.  We drive through a lot of small communities around here and tend to sit on about 40kph when doing so.  I can't believe the amount of drivers that barrell through at 80kph+, both western and Filipino.  

I find it hard to believe the voracity of the deaths per 100,000 listed here by country:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate

[Jollygoodfellow]

15 minutes ago, BrettGC said:

but I reckon I could safely say that 80% of incidents I've nearly had involve young filipinas being completely oblivious to anything going on around

I think their perception is off. For example, almost every time I walk with my partner I get cheesed off. We are about to cross the road and I would say car coming, wait. She would say plenty of time but I know there's not after working on the road for many years. Or instead of walking in a straight line across the road, she wants to cut across diagonally.  I have said many times that thats the last time I walk with you.

Oh and what about this? We had to walk a block or 2 last Saturday. The sun was pretty hot and she wanted to take an umbrella. As most of the route is shaded by buildings l said won't need it but anyway she had left the dark umbrella at work and had a clear plastic one. I said what's the point of that as the sun will shine right through it? Mind your own business and I will do what I want was the answer.

So we get to the building we are going to and I chose to walk along the covered section of the building to get to the main entrance but she chose the path in full sun with her umbrella. 

[baronapart]

2 hours ago, Freebie said:

Selfish p ricks that have no idea what the purpose of a pedestrian crossing is adn think they can barrel thruogh regardless of a pedestrian on the crossing. My strategy, given that filipinos are generally very nervous about crossing roads and tend to do the stop start shuffle, is to walk across a ped X with hand held high in direction of driveer, indicating Im not taking any sh1t and Im walking on the crossing. Works most of the time but still some idiot selfish drivers think they have the right of way....

 

[mountainside]

This thread has come at a good time for me.  We'll soon be returning to the Phils after a few years in the US.  You all are helping me prevent any rose-tint from forming on my spectacles.  My Filipina wife will never trust the safety of pedestrian crossings anywhere, including in the US.  She stays in shape by running across all intersections, no matter how safe I deem them -- she takes my hand (always my good yaya) and rushes me across the street as fast as her little self can pull me.

Like previous posters, I early on learned to adapt to Philippine drivers' frequent disregard for cross-walks and pedestrians, but I'll never come to like it, even when driving.

During my first few months driving in the Philippines I unconsciously stopped from time to allow a pedestrian to cross an intersection.  You all will know what often happened:  the pedestrian would stare at me in disbelief while frozen in place.  And the horns would start blaring behind me.  

Edited March 6, 2023 by mountainside

[Onemore52]

13 hours ago, Old55 said:

During our visits I'm accepting and understanding of most behavior and realize it goes with the territory. Filipinos are for the most part are kind caring people.

Like you JJ, we have low tolerance for constant barking dogs and pity them held in small cages. It's inhumane cruel and totally unacceptable that civilized people treat animals in that regard. This is something I don't understand about Filipinos. 

The very loud motorbikes and loudspeakers set at 11 can be a nuisance. I've a theory most Filipinos suffer hearing loss due to noise pollution and don't actually realize how loud they are. Generally speaking Filipinos have little regard for how noise affects others around them.

I am of the opinion that the way they treat animals is not the way a civilised society would treat an animal.

I have said it before on this forum that pedestrian crossings, speed restriction signs, double lines are a total waste of good paint.

When I am driving in the province I also stop at pedestrian crossings to let people across, and then the drivers behind me either honk the horn or overtake me, which leads me to think they have no regard for human life.

[mountainside]

10 hours ago, BrettGC said:

The way nothing is ever anyone's fault, particularly the person who is at fault.  Yes I get that sometimes "shit happens" and some things are genuinely an accident but the lengths your average Filipino will go to void having the finger pointed at them is an entirely different level.  You know they're lying, they know that you know as well, but... Well you all know what I mean.  Personal responsibility is an anathema here.  

Road use, specifically young filipinas on motorcycles/scooters.  Yes, we all know that near death experiences on the road are common here, whether you're driving or a pedestrian, we've all had a few - but I reckon I could safely say that 80% of incidents I've nearly had involve young filipinas being completely oblivious to anything going on around them to the point they'll look you in the eye as you approach and still a pull out in front of you.  We drive through a lot of small communities around here and tend to sit on about 40kph when doing so.  I can't believe the amount of drivers that barrell through at 80kph+, both western and Filipino.  

I find it hard to believe the voracity of the deaths per 100,000 listed here by country:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate

Edited March 6, 2023 by mountainside
Was surprised to see that the US has more fatalities per capita than the Phils. I think I'll always be more cautious and alert driving in the Philippines than the US, though.

[Old55]

Agree Mountainside. 

Not to pile on I notice while driving trike and scooter drivers will often pull out into traffic without looking. Oftentimes will take a U-turn from one side of the road across all lanes of traffic. It seems the norm and scares the heck out of me.

What do you guys think is this a God-fate thing or just ignorance? 

[Onemore52]

1 minute ago, Old55 said:

Agree Mountainside. 

Not to pile on I notice while driving trike and scooter drivers will often pull out into traffic without looking. Oftentimes will take a U-turn from one side of the road across all lanes of traffic. It seems the norm and scares the heck out of me.

What do you guys think is this a God-fate thing or just ignorance? 

I reckon they don’t give a rats arse, or just plain Richard Craniums, or something else to describe Me,Me, Me.

All of the above plus the absence of any law enforcement.
 

I was discussing this with a taxi driver In Sydney Australia who gave me these words of wisdom 

“ if it wasn’t for all the police patrols, red light cameras, cameras everywhere watching every move we make, the hefty fines and loss of driving privileges  it would be exactly the same here”.

[BrettGC]

38 minutes ago, Old55 said:

What do you guys think is this a God-fate thing or just ignorance? 

Willful ignorance. 

[BrettGC]

28 minutes ago, Onemore52 said:

I was discussing this with a taxi driver In Sydney Australia who gave me these words of wisdom 

“ if it wasn’t for all the police patrols, red light cameras, cameras everywhere watching every move we make, the hefty fines and loss of driving privileges  it would be exactly the same here”.

Yep, of that I have no doubt.