Driving in Philippines

The Philippines is a beautiful and friendly country. if there is one thing that needs to be improved, it has got to be the public transportation. So, if you plan to go around the Philippines, you might as well rent a car and get help from Waze or other similar apps.

Good news! It is safe to drive in the Philippines even if you are not a local. However, you should expect that driving in the Philippines can be stressful. Roads are often crowded and chaotic. Drivers routinely ignore stoplights, lane markers and other traffic control devices, and traffic rules are rarely enforced. As in most places where traffic is congested and under-regulated, driving in the Philippines requires maximum attention and patience to avoid accidents.

Vehicles on the road include cars, trucks and buses, as well as manually operated tricycles and carts. Due to a lack of navigable sidewalks, pedestrians also use the road in most areas. Many roads are in disrepair, with large potholes; those under repair are often not clearly marked and may be a significant hazard, especially at night. Low-lying roads are frequently flooded, even after a light rain, making it difficult to see potholes and other obstacles. During the rainy season, roads at higher elevations can experience landslides.

You will see pedestrians on highways! And yes, this can be pretty scary so you better watch out for it.

There are a lot of one-way streets so beware because you might get caught. With these, you have to be very cautious when driving. Look for signs and be a defensive driver. It is normal to hear other drivers cursing and getting hot – tempered.

Note that in the Philippines, they use the left-hand side for driving (the steering wheel is on the left side). Do not be confused if you’re from the United Kingdom.

Despite the very chaotic driving culture in the Philippines, it’s good to know that there are significantly few rates of driving-related accidents in the country compared to its Asian neighbors. This is primarily because of the slow movement of traffic in very congested cities.

Unlike other Asian countries, the Filipinos drive on the right side of the road, owing to their association with the US in the past. The condition of the roads vary between regions. The Philippines is an archipelago consisting of more than 7,000 islands, so it’s understandable that some spots are more travelled than others, affecting the consistency of road quality.