New Year’s resolution: Be a better motorist
As much as possible, don’t eat and drink while driving as this is not only messy but dangerous. A piping hot coffee is one item you should not to have in your car while driving
This general shot shows vehicles stuck in traffic in Manila on December 14, 2017. The Philippines has passed a tax reform bill at the heart of President Rodrigo Duterte's economic agenda, officials said, raising levies on coal, cars, soft drinks and cosmetic surgeries to rebuild the country's crumbling infrastructure. (Photo by NOEL CELIS / AFP)
Each year, Filipino motorists, particularly those in Metro Manila, spend about 241 hours behind the wheel, according to the annual traffic index compiled by the Netherlands-based location, navigation and map technology specialist, TomTom.
While this means we do love to bring our cars or motorcycles to work or to wherever we want to be, that same traffic index says that these motorists waste about 100 hours slogging through painfully heavy traffic.
On average, it took 27 minutes for these motorists to travel 10 kilometers in Metro Manila.
There are several reasons Metro Manila is ranked ninth in the world and fourth in Asia for having such miserable traffic. Like all the rest of the 390 cities surveyed, Metro Manila has an overflowing number of vehicles especially during rush hours, which happen from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., and again from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Numerous construction projects along several routes also contribute to congestion plus the fact that commuters rely heavily on buses and jeepneys as train lines are inadequate and we still have no subway system.
Residents commute on a motorcycle past an overturned hut in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Noru in San Ildefonso, Bulacan province on September 26, 2022. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)
During the rainy season, traffic situation could also worsen as sudden downpour often cause flash flooding that completely stops traffic flow.
But another contributor to traffic congestion, which motorists may be able to do something about, is our poor driving habits.
Sudden lane changes, tailgating, aggressive driving, and speeding can all cause accidents that slow or stop traffic flow. Similarly, distracted driving (e.g., those who love checking their smartphones while stuck in traffic) and driving under the influence can also to lead similar outcomes.
