On Road Arrogance

On Road Arrogance

By Taga Ibaan Ako

While the government boasts about thousands of miles of constructed concrete roads, lines of drivers applying for and renewing “driver’s license” also takes an unprecedented trend. Their number increase almost exponentially, along with the vehicles registered. According to Land Transportation (LTO) records, the number of driver’s license and permits issued amounts to 3,711,856 in 2006, 3,972,654 in 2007, and 4,184,499 in 2008. Meanwhile, there were 781,741 new motor vehicle registered for the year 2006.

With these statistics, roads are expected not to have any breathing space at all. It good to know there’s a lot who wants to be in the service of others, particularly in public transportation. Unfortunately, not everyone can be called “educated driver”. Worst, with bad luck, road arrogance is all there is when you cruise the street with them. Sad to say, such arrogance results to accidents which, in the first place, could be avoided.

But of course, there are still those who know their obligations and responsibilities when driving. These people understand what “road courtesy” means. That’s a breather, though.

Here then are some of the common forms of arrogance you’ll find on the road.

The Snake

Snake driving is one of the deadliest ways to drive. Discourtesy involves butting –in even with a nil space available, forcing others to slide side ways to avoid getting hit. This way, vehicles on the opposite lane are made to jump into their brakes so as to give way for the head coming their way. What’s so irritating about this is that, these snakes would pin their horn as hard as they can to the point you get so surprised is to see someone suddenly popping before your bumper. This may result to disorientation of one’s concentration. Basically, motor cycles do this; knowing they can go faster than the others on split-second rev.

Guess what, a Facebook account was even created by people sharing their own nightmares with these snakes.

The Horn

Growing up in the country side made me so used with the sound of “kuliglig” at night. Their orchestra-like music, together with bull frogs, hardly rings a bell in one’s ear. But moving down the city, street sound coming from a vehicles’ horn just destroyed the way how music is being appreciated. This is where you find the relentless thundering blowing of horns.

Jeepneys, being the king of the road, perfectly love to do this. In their attempt to be noticed by would-be-passengers, horns are rolled out an ulcer-incubating and nerve cracking, long and continued manner. The thing is, it is sometimes done as if there’s a rave party on the street. I wonder why they do that when it can be in short durations.

In Memphis, during the earlier time, an ordinance known as Anti-Noise Ordinance was passed. After 8pm, the city is quite, practically speaking, as a grave. Silence and repose is very much valued by the people. To protect this, the ordinance bans all “loud, disturbing and unnecessary noises”. So to speak, it includes blaring vehicle horns, except to avoid accident. In San Juan, Metro Manila, “Anti- Noise Pollution Ordinance” was passed and approved in 2007 to regulate unwanted, human-created noise caused by transportation sources, principally motor vehicles and others. Others followed this example.

The Bull

As per LTO or TDRO’s list of traffic violations, this is called counter flow. This may be forgivable in interior roads. But on the main road, this is bullying.

Imagine yourself driving on a clear lane ahead of you. You have the right of way since you’re on the right lane. The left lane, assuming, is jammed with traffic. Then all of a sudden, a vehicle cut itself lose from other side and went on head to head on you in a desperate attempt to pass the traffic. It’s either you swerve deep right to avoid it or stop to give way.

In once instance, as reported by Abner Mercado in February 7, 2010, a man was arrested for countering the other lane after getting irritated with the traffic in Edsa. The man’s car slammed with 20 other vehicles. This is no accident. It’s just a plain case of arrogance and being impatient.

In cases like this, motor bikes are most disrespected by these bulls. I myself have fallen victim to this. And most of the time, these hard-headed bulls involve SUVs with commemorative plates, including those with red plates. At one time, I stopped in the middle of my lane, and refuse to give way. I have the right-of-way. The bull went back to his lane butting his way in to his lane. Respect begets respect.

The Kite

Before a kite could steady itself in the sky, it swerves abruptly and erratically to uncertain directions. On the road, this is almost synonymous to snake driving. But the thing that makes it more despicable is that, they don’t use signal lights! Have you been not a defensive driver, expect to take a bang on your rear from this practice.

Every driver knows that appropriate use of signal lights is imperative. This is called upon when turning, changing lane or when stopping for an exit from a roundabout. Unfortunately, most of the drivers don’t seem to know their importance in avoiding vehicular accidents. They must have not been told when they applied for a license.

Motor vehicle must be equipped with signal lights. In general, turning movements require signals to be given continuously during the last 100 feet traveled by a vehicle before turning. If a driver is driving at 35 mph or more, the motorist must signal at least 300 feet before turning. If the vehicle’s turn lights don’t work, the motorist must at least use hand signals.

Admit it or not, culprits include jeepney drivers (especially when picking up and letting go of passengers), motor bikes on belief they could escape with it easily, tricycle drivers who usually their legs to make a signal. Sometimes, cars, though equipped with complete signal lights, also forget about this. On the other hand, granted they use signal lights, they leave and let them blink for a long even after they’ve made their turn. Expectedly, this would cause confusion to other driver/vehicle on their tail.

Remember, hand signal is not enough. Make a good use of both of them.

The Light Maniac

Every vehicle is built with lights. They have their own purpose, all of which are intended for everyone’s safety. But what if the driver renders himself naïve of their function, particularly the head lights? That will be a problem. And this is another arrogance in the making.

Nobody wants to be blinded. However, this is where you’re leading to when the vehicle at your opposite direction flashes his light like those in Alcatraz Prison searching for fugitives. These are the drivers who don’t understand the word “dim lights”.

Improper use of lights include driving with bright lights, failure to dim lights, glaring lights, driving with unauthorized or too many lights and driving with improper lights to the rear.

As a piece of advice, in general, headlights must be used under the following circumstances:

· when a driver cannot see because of insufficient light on gray days, or in heavy traffic when the vehicle may seem to blend with the surroundings

· when there are unfavorable atmospheric conditions, including rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog, smoke or smog

· when driver cannot see pedestrians or vehicle on the highway for a distance of 1,000 feet ahead of the vehicle the driver is operating

· between sunset and sunrise, and

· when driving through work zones

On the other hand, the driver of a standing or parked vehicle must understand that keeping his headlights on constitute a source of danger to others. Thus, hazard lights are more fitting to use. For hazard warning lights, they must be continuously used when a driver is unable to maintain a speed of the minimum speed due to weather or other similar factors, or is unable to maintain a speed consistent with the normal flow of traffic.

Meanwhile, it must be remembered that, by virtue of Land Transportation Office (LTO) Memorandum Circular dated March 23, 1999, “dazzling lights”, “fog lamps”, “broken tail lights”, “broken tail lens”, and “unauthorized rear/side/spot white or neon lights of any color” are all banned. Thus, their use is apparently illegal. Much more to this, Presidential Decree No. 96, which have been in effect since 1973, prohibits the use of dome lights and other similar signaling or flashing devices attached to motor vehicles and used on the highways. The prohibition also includes the use of sirens, bells, horns, whistles and similar gadgets that emit exceptionally loud or startling sounds. And this is the part which is mostly violated by The Horns.

The Middle Man

Stopping at the middle of the road is an egotistical display of machismo. This is often seen from those who couldn’t care about stopping at road’s shoulder or on the road side for any necessity. Others sometimes would make a halt on the road to talk with another driver instead of parking in full. It appears like they don’t realize that they constitute road obstruction and pose danger to other motorists.

In most instances, some jeepneys can’t afford to do this, again, when picking or unloading passengers. Garbage trucks and other government vehicles also join this party with no regard for others being put into hold and delayed by their actions.

Roads are not constructed for the benefit of the few. Nobody owns them; they’re for public use. In that sense, no one has the right to cause trouble with any other motorists on the road. If you don’t want to be considered as an arrogant one, then give respect to road users. Don’t be such a nuisance. Our life is at stake and it depends on it. And if you think you don’t belong to any of those we’ve mentioned, then there’s no reason for you to flare. Once we take a hold of our license to drive, we are already under obligation to be a responsible one. Not an arrogant one.