Lets think about the road . . . .

February 16, 2005

“Traffic, too bad nakaka bad trip . . . . .” Remember the commercial jingle? Rush hour in Metro Manila is one of the most gruelsome events during the day. Everyone is on a hurry. Bus cutting jeepneys, jeepneys cutting cars, cars cursing those whose cutting them and MMDA officials desperately looking for a vehicle who is in violation of the color coding scheme.

Yes, it is totally chaotic. Only in the Philippines can you find motor vehicles, people waiting for a ride, animals, bikers, traffic enforcers and pedestrians all in the same road. When I was a little kid traffic was bad, when I was a student, it was worse, now that I am a young professional, well, traffic has never changed and it had gotten worst. Leaders come and go, administrations change, policies change and even laws are continuously ammended. Flyovers were built, expressways were renovated, overpass were constructed, traffic signs were put into place and even former coastline were converted into roads. But has these events eased up the pain that has been hurting us Filipinos for the past decade?

Statistics will say that the reason why traffic in the metropolis is worse than ever is due to the fact that our city is “overpopulated”. The transportation sector will say, no, it is because “there are alot of vehicles and jaywalkers on the road”. Pedestrians will say, well, you’re wrong, “there are not enough roads”. Experts will argue we need more “overpass, flyover and under pass”. Economists will comment, well, this is a sign of “growth and progress”. Politicians will grand stand and say “it’s the inefficiency of the government and the party running it”.
If I was asked I will say, trafficis a pain that never eases. We can all have a long standing debate on why traffic in the metropolis is terrible and what are the measures we can do for it to be solved. But still, we will be left with no answers and no clue. Lets face it, we have numerous laws, determined leaders, ample number of traffic enforcers and our streets is filled up with alot of overpass and other channels for people to pass by. If you are telling me that we need more of these, I would definitely disagree.

The only solution left for all of us to do is change from within. We don’t need more of these and that. We already have too much. What people should realize is that we should focus ourselves not on what we must have but rather on what we do have, the road.
If I was to ask you, what’s the first thing that comes into your mind when driving? I wonder what you will answer. Going to work, work at the office, the tasks to be done for the day, the appointment with the client, the exam, the argument at home, my wife, my girlfriend, my dog, my quota for the day, my relatives coming over for dinner, my in laws, my problems, my happy thoughts, parking space and other stuff that we always think about.
It is interesting to note that we almost always consider driving as very stressful. I have a different paradigm regarding this activity. For me, it is a zen-like experience. Why? Because I do not think of anything other that controling the steering wheel, shifting the gear, stepping on the gas pad to accelerate, stepping on the brakes to stop, looking at the moon trails on the road, be alert on the vehicles cutting me off and staying focus on driving and getting to my destination.

If you try to analyze it, public utility drivers are very reckless, very inconsiderate, always undisciplined and very unreasonable most of the time. In all these points, I have to agree with you but hey, come to think of it, they are trying to make a living. Imagine yourself in a position where you are thinking of hitting your quota for the day so that you can feed your family, wouldn’t that affect your driving skills? Think of that and I am sure you will forget everything about safety on the road. Put yourself in the position of a jeepney driver, running his vehicle in a traffic laiden highway at the same time computing the payment given by one of the passengers, wouldn’t that drive you mad?

Imagine you are a private motorist with a very important meeting and you are late for it, wouldn’t you be more inclined to think of reaching your destination, wondering what your clients are feeling right now rather than focusing on the road? Today while driving to work, the inner lane was filled up because everyone was going for a u-turn but no one realized on the other end, vehicles were also heading for a u-turn. No one saw that the best way to get to the other side was through another u-turn slot 50 meters up ahead. If you were concentrating on the road rather than having your mind somewhere, wouldn’t the drivers have seen of the better option that was a few meters ahead?

Given all of these facts, would you agree that thinking about the road more rather than giving much attention to our other thoughts while driving or even crossing the street will be the best way to go?

If all people will focus their awareness on the path where they are going and concentrating on the operation of the machine known as a vehicle, traffic wouldn’t be a problem. Related accidents will also be lessened and most importantly, we will all have a different point of view about driving. Imagine if a bus driver will just set his sight on a bus stop and not think of ways on how to get more passengers, I don’t believe they will be reckless at all.

Let us not complicate simple things. Sometimes the practical approach is the best approach. We should not focus our attention on how to solve this aching problem in a macro scale. I tell you, there are no short cuts and it will be definitely be frustrating because there are no means for it to be changed overnight. No research can solve it and neither can complaining do alot about it. The best way to go is to get the most out of it.

Take something positive about this day to day endeavor and I tell you, it will be rewarding. Lets start with ourselves and hopefully we can suggest this simple advice to other
motorists . . . . . .
Lets think about the road.