Viral Road Rage In Olongapo

[OnMyWay]

This one was viral on FB the past few days. 

I know this road like the back of my hand and drive it several times a week, between SBFZ Kalaklan gate and Barrio Barretto.  I think I have mentioned it here as a super dangerous road and there are accidents every week, some very bad.  A lot of big trucks swerve back and forth in the lanes like the cars in the video.  This morning there was a super long tractor trailer stuck on the curve at the 2:34 mark in the video.  He needed extra room to make the curve and was stopped while cars and motorcycles swarmed him on both sides.  Just before I got up to him he was able to move.  I was going to stop and try to give him space. 

The first time I saw the video, it was posted by the driver of the L300.  Now the driver of the Vios sent it to Visor.  I don't know what the driver of the L300 was saying but some English commentors were saying he was out to get the vios guy. He sounds like a jerk and drives like one too.  At the last turn into SBMA, he makes his illegal right turn from the middle lane and they are laughing.  I see these asshats all the time.  If somebody goes straight from the right lane, there are always Olongapo enforcers waiting on the other side to nail them.  Sometimes I get on the horn to alert the enforcers, because the jerks will block the the right turn lane while there is a green arrow.

There are two merges at the top of hills, in each direction, and that is where most conflicts begin.  Especially in slow traffic, nobody wants to give way.  Dog eat dog.

Funny thing, at the end where they have the conflict, there is a SBMA LED guy standing on the left near the guardhouse.  I have known him since 2014 when he was my neighbor.  His name is Jojo and my wife calls him Jojo the Mojo!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1FmMW78RP1/

 

[JJReyes]

What makes driving crazy today in the Philippines is economic prosperity.  The middle class can now afford motorcycles and scooters.  Professionals can afford cars while the wealthy purchase 2nd or 3rd cars.  Have they increased the number of roads?  The congestion creates traffic, frustration and reckless driving.  I won't drive, probably can't because the rules of the road have changed.  The current driving style is to demonstrate aggression.  I just seat back relax while scrolling my phone and try to ignore the surrounding chaos.  

[Adelito]

I totally agree with this. Traffic here has really changed over the years, especially with more people able to afford vehicles now. It feels like the roads didn’t keep up with the growth. I’ve noticed the same aggressive driving too, so I also prefer just sitting back and letting someone else drive 😅

[LT Mac]

3 hours ago, JJReyes said:

What makes driving crazy today in the Philippines is economic prosperity.  The middle class can now afford motorcycles and scooters.  Professionals can afford cars while the wealthy purchase 2nd or 3rd cars.  Have they increased the number of roads?  The congestion creates traffic, frustration and reckless driving.  I won't drive, probably can't because the rules of the road have changed.  The current driving style is to demonstrate aggression.  I just seat back relax while scrolling my phone and try to ignore the surrounding chaos.  

The rules are super simple.  The biggest vehicle has the right of way UNLESS a motorcycle or trike can squeeze through and gets ahead of the biggest vehicle.

[Mike J]

2 hours ago, Adelito said:

I totally agree with this. Traffic here has really changed over the years, especially with more people able to afford vehicles now. It feels like the roads didn’t keep up with the growth. I’ve noticed the same aggressive driving too, so I also prefer just sitting back and letting someone else drive 😅

Welcome to the forum Adelito.  I think you will find us a friendly bunch. 

[scott h]

4 hours ago, LT Mac said:

The biggest vehicle has the right

If your talking about big trucks or busses 100% agree. But what I have found is that big, new SUV drivers are a bunch of cowards. I drive a 2006 vios beater, if one of these jokers attempts to force his way in, I just do not give way. I do not care if my care gets (another ) dent, but they sure do. They always back down.

As a caveat, I always insure I have the right of way or am obeying traffic laws. So far, all the dents on my car are my fault trying to park in our very narrow parking place.

[hk blues]

On 4/1/2026 at 11:41 AM, Adelito said:

I totally agree with this. Traffic here has really changed over the years, especially with more people able to afford vehicles now. It feels like the roads didn’t keep up with the growth. I’ve noticed the same aggressive driving too, so I also prefer just sitting back and letting someone else drive 😅

One of the reasons I decided to drive here was I got stressed when sitting in taxis etc.

Welcome b.t.w. 

[GeoffH]

On 4/1/2026 at 6:33 PM, scott h said:

I drive a 2006 vios beater, if one of these jokers attempts to force his way in, I just do not give way. I do not care if my care gets (another ) dent, but they sure do.

I always give way to old dented taxis for the same reason 

[JJReyes]

Years ago, our younger son joined us on a Philippine trip.  Starting with the ride from the airport to the hotel, we could see his body twisting as he anticipated our vehicle being hit by others.  This lasted a couple of days.  Then everything was okay.  He noticed that most of the passenger cars did not have dents.  His conclusion was there were unwritten rules of the road as motorists played a game of chicken, but actual contact was rare.  Besides the speed within city limit was low because of traffic which meant serious bodily injury or death was highly unlikely.  So long as he didn't drive, because he did not know the unwritten rules, everything would be okay.

Our son also admired the skill of local drivers and their ability to park with only a little clearance on both sides.  One time the space was so tight there was no way to open the driver side or passenger doors.  The driver exited through the rear of the SUV.  He had dropped off the three of us before accomplishing this feat.

[Mike J]

44 minutes ago, JJReyes said:

His conclusion was there were unwritten rules of the road as motorists played a game of chicken, but actual contact was rare.

That is the same conclusion I arrived at.  I am a bit embarrassed to say that I now drive a lot like the folks around me.  We have a Filipina friend who moved to the USA.  She had driven here for years.  She went to the DMV to get a Florida driver license and had to take both a written and driving test.  After driving around the block she was instructed to return to the DMV and told she had failed the test.  "The line separating traffic lanes is NOT an aiming point.  You must maintain your lane."