Real Talk

Driving Etiquette: Road Manners that Parents and Kids Who Drive Need to Follow

by Kevyn Gohu
June 19, 2024

Nothing is more infuriating than dealing with drivers for some strange reason end up cutting us off on the road, swerving, etc. which is why we need to learn some driving etiquette.

In a city where cars are the most preferred transport, we often see driving as a necessary life skill. And traditionally, families saw a person’s ability to drive as a mark of independence. However, knowing how to maneuver a car is only one part of driving – interacting and understanding the etiquette with other drivers on the road is the other. Although there are laws laid down by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), drivers deal with the many technicalities that they usually learn only with experience.

So to make things easier, here are some rules in driving etiquette that most people don’t tell us when dealing with Metro Manila traffic:

1. Use your signal lights especially when you want to change lane.

So many accidents have occurred because everyone forgets this particular driving etiquette. Instead, they shove the nose of their car into the lane they want to switch to which is how they end up scrunching up their bumpers. And while that’s the bumper’s job, getting a paint job to restore it isn’t cheap. Most car painting shops charge per panel, not per scratch or damage.

Besides, all it usually takes is to flick the rod on the left side of the steering wheel to activate the signal lights. Up for left, down for right usually but, it depends on the car.

2. Just let the public transport pass through.

We already know what public transport job is: to pick up as many people as they can to bring them from point A to point B. But what people forget is, like us, they’re also rushing to get people to those points. So when they try to pick-up people, they end up occupying two lanes which is distressing for anyone who’s running late.

Besides, like most cars, buses have a bit of a blindspot which is how most car accidents happen: either being crushed like a sandwich or having the entire bumper ripped off from the bus’ force and motion.

Taxis also have this issue and are usually the ones squeezing in left and right. And as distressing as that is, letting them go ahead actually saves more time. Less time to negotiate means more time to get to where we want.

And for those who are commuting, please go to the proper pick-up points. We want to get home to our families as much as you do.

3. When overtaking, use the signal light to show from what side we’re overtaking from with two light beeps.

Most accidents also occur because it’s an overtaking gone wrong. People just power the car through, thinking they have to speed to carry them through. But aerodynamics would dictate that the shape of the car and the engine affect how fast the car will gain momentum to overtake. So, giving them a signal through the signal light (that’s what they’re there for!) and two light beeps ought to make the intention known.

Now, not everyone is willing to give way especially when we’re in an area where the roads are all about diskarte. And when that happens, better to let them go.

However, if there’s nobody in front of them and they’re running so slow that even our grandparents in a wheelchair move faster then, make the call to overtake. But make sure that there’s enough space for the car to wiggle through or to return to a lane to prevent straddling.

4. Don’t text while you’re driving.

We need our eyes on the road. Enough said. Besides, it’s punishable by law to text while driving.

5. When passing: flash the headlights once for permission to pass, and flash twice to signal the other party to pass.

Lights are easy to activate for a reason; they’re a driver’s way of communicating their intentions to other drivers. The signal light and even the headlights have a language. While signal lights communicate our intent to go a particular way, headlights can be used to tell another driver if they’re allowed to pass or not. If we’re in a hurry, flash once and activate the “emergency flashers” – this is a button with a triangle on it.

Now, most drivers have this horrible habit of flicking the headlight switch quickly and repeatedly which will break the mechanism. And trust us when we say, it’s not easy booking a car electrician.

6. If the other side’s headlights are too bright, flash headlights at maximum.

A lot of people aren’t aware of how bright their headlights are and with the new LED headlights, they’re a lot brighter than usual. However, instead of driving being blinded by the incoming car’s bright headlights, flash ours at the brightest. This is usually acknowledged by most veteran drivers as a sign that their headlights are too bright.

Now, if that’s truly the dimmest they can go – which we’re sure they’re not because that’s why cars have fog lights and park lights, park on one side and let them pass. Being blinded by a flash doesn’t justify smashing into another car.

7. Light and short presses on the horn for “excuse me, passing through” and long and heavy presses to tell people to “GET OUT!” or “MOVE!”

Every car has a horn and the pressure placed on the horn can affect the volume of said horn. What some drivers do is they control the pressure and frequency of pressing the horn to tell other drivers what they need. Light and short presses on the horn usually communicate “excuse me, passing through” and a long and loud blare means “get out of our way now!”

Now, some car enthusiasts equip their tiny cars with loud truck horns despite the costly battery consumption. They usually do this to warn bigger cars (which have big blind spots also) that they’re passing.

Driving etiquette keeps everyone safe (including other drivers)

Although the Land Transport Office (LTO) already put out regulations such as every starting driver needing to go through an accredited driving school, some lessons just can’t be found in the classroom. It takes people who have been driving on the road for years to master the language. After all, Metro Manila’s roads are quite notorious: “If you know how to drive in Metro Manila, you can drive anywhere.”

And while experience can be a better teacher in the context of driving, learning at least that the language and acknowledging that driving etiquette exists is a great way to start embedding it into our driving.