How to Ensure Safety While Driving in the Streets of Manila


One of the most common ways to keep yourself safe while driving in Manila is defensive driving. This is especially true during the rainy season, as the weather can bring decreased, slippery roads, and other similar driving-related risks. Read on to know more about some of the other safety measures you can take while driving around the city and even beyond that.

Conduct regular vehicle check-ups.

Regular tire checks are important, especially if you’re regularly navigating roads with potholes and puddles. Water from these can decrease the friction of your wheel against the concrete and the effects can be further compounded when it rains.

Check your brakes as well for potential damage. If you need to stock up on brake fluid, do so and don’t wait for the time when the car is already out of control before you act on it. Checking out car reviews in the Philippines may help you with these as they also have additional tips on these departments.

Also, proper and consistent maintenance is the key. Keep your vehicle in tiptop condition. Aside from going for a regular car wash, make sure to have regular oil changes, part changes as the need arises, and safekeeping of spare parts in case you’re stuck on the road and have no other way to get fast access to vital car components.

In this regard, make it a point to learn about car repair and maintenance. Even the basic concepts and techniques will do as these can prove helpful in the long run.

Ask a professional to help you with the assessment if you’re not sure what to look for. Ideally, you have to check your car or have it checked once a month. If you can assess it more frequently (as in before every trip), that would be better.

Keep all the doors locked.

This is not only applicable if you have kids onboard. You’ll never know when an adult will accidentally open the door while you are speeding up through an expressway. Needless to say, it’s better to enforce all safety measures than to deal with avoidable accidents later on.

Aside from avoiding accidents, closing the doors will act as one of your preventive measures against crimes, such as theft, robbery, and other similar moduses there are. Even if they come up with other ways to pry the car open, you can buy yourself some time to react accordingly.

Don’t drive if you’re sleepy, drunk, or tired.

Being sleepy, drunk, or tired can significantly decrease your alertness and can lead to decreased attention on the road. When this happens, you can become prone to serious accidents. Even if you managed to pull through driving before while in these states, don’t assume you’ll be as lucky the next time. If you’re really set on observing safe driving, you’ll eliminate all the things that can place you in dangerous situations.

If any of the three describes you at the time, consider having another person take over the driving task in your place. In case you don’t have someone with you, ride a cab to your destination or have someone pick you up.

Plan before you get behind the wheel.

Planning ahead for your route will not only help you save some time but also improve the way you navigate the road. Aside from determining the main roads you’ll pass through, do your research and check out possible alternative routes you can take if the main ones are congested.

Install and use a navigation app to help you predict if you’re about to pass through an area with accidents, heavy traffic, or ongoing construction, among others. Make sure to turn your locator on and you have a reliable mobile connection to keep yourself updated.

Also bring along photocopies of important documents so they’ll come in handy in case the need for them arises. Keep the original copies in a safe place but never bring them with you all the time to prevent being a target of carnapping.

Don’t forget to bring repair sets and first aid kits as you load your things inside the car. If you have car insurance and other policies, take note of the pertinent details so you can easily access these if you need them.

Aside from these, consider plotting your stopovers as well, especially if you’re planning for a long drive. This may delay your trip for a bit, but use the downtime to rest for a bit so you can have more energy to get to your destination safely. It also makes for a great chance to catch up with your companions and see how they’re feeling so far. Bathroom breaks are a must as well at this point.

Use the time to check on your car’s condition so far. Make adjustments as necessary and check for possible road threats to ensure safety the rest of the way. If you have dashboard cameras installed, check them out the memory and the status as well to ensure they can record the events for the rest of your journey.

Keep your eyes on the road.

Avoid distractions the best you can. One of the most common distractions that can revert your attention is your mobile phone. In this regard, keep your screen time to a minimum–you can always check your phone during a stopover or right after parking your car once you arrive at your destination.

Some external sources of distractions may also include people who will attempt to throw rocks or eggs on your windshield or any other part of the car. Ignore them as they will surely post danger to you and your companion.

Avoid situations that can increase danger while driving.

If you can’t avoid downpours for some reason, make sure to practice defensive driving. This means you have to be extra vigilant for potential causes of accidents and timely react to avoid them.

Avoid driving during the night if you can. Like driving in the rain, traversing the road late at night can render you vulnerable because of decreased visibility, even if you have your headlights on. You can also be a likely target of the crimes mentioned above, especially if you’re planning to pass somewhere with low traffic.

Use the vehicle’s safety features.

After all, they’re not there as mere displays–it’s a must to use them for every trip you make. Some of these features are bought separately, so take these into consideration, especially if you have “regular passengers” from different age groups.

Some of the safety features you can maximize include the following:

  • Seatbelts
  • Child locks
  • Airbags
  • Children’s car seats

Strictly follow all traffic rules.

Among all the tips stated here, this is the most straightforward. Rules are there for a reason and that’s to keep motorists like you safe. While there are still reckless drivers out there who don’t pay much attention to the rules, at least you can decrease the risks of running into them as much as possible.

While it’s not exactly a rule, defensive driving can also fit under this tip. It’s like an enhanced version of following the traffic rules in the sense that you take extra precautions to keep yourself, your passengers, and the people and things around you safe while you’re driving.

Some practices that fall under this category include these things:

  • Braking early and slowly
  • Regularly checking the side mirrors for any signs of reckless driving
  • Avoiding overtakes and tailgating

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rodmagaru

Rod Magaru is an award winning content creator based in the Philippines. He blogs about lifestyle and Entertainment and is known for breaking news on new projects in TV, Movies and reviews of products, hotels and awesome travel tips. He is also a Social media strategist, accepts hosting & speaking engagement. For inquiries email [email protected]