Taking donations for LFDF!

LFDF stands for "Learn to F****ing Drive Foundation"

Okay, it's not a foundation yet and I'm not taking donations, but we can see how much interest there is.

The first task of the foundation would be to print out a massive number of copies of a drivers manual with a sticky side on one cover. When someone is driving stupid within close range, we can slap these things on the side of the vehicle or whatever surface we can reach.

Particularly easy targets would be the vehicles which don't even bother to try to slow down when people are walking across those mysterious white stripes which go across the road.

Who would be a good candidate for these? EVERYONE.

Nobody in this town knows how to drive.

There are a lot of white faces here and they all seem to drive motorcycles. Yet back home, a motorcycle is mostly a recreational vehicle, which is a toy purchased in addition to the "one car per wage earner" parked in the driveway. These days people back home don't have a lot of money for such things. I can't name a single person from back home who has a motorcycle.

The closest experience most foriegners have had for driving a motorcycle is the bicycle they owned when they were children. This experience seems to transfer to motorcyles as well because many people drive these motorcycles as if they were bicycles. Put a foreigner in a car, and they probably drive okay. Put a foreigner on a motorcycle and the days of youthful BMX glory come back.

Today I was walking across the street and a foreigner cut me off while turning - driving between me and the curb - which was probably 4 feet away from me - on the LEFT side of the street. He was so close to the corner that his tires were nearly in the gutter between the curb and the street. If you cut someone off like that, at least make sure you are doing it on the correct side of the road.

Sure, foreigners can learn to drive motorcycles safely.
-- If they go through the trouble of the requirements to get a license.
-- If they wear a helmet.
-- If they wear proper foot gear (relatively high quality flip-flops don't count.)
-- If they take a motorcycle safety course (probably not required here, but a good idea.)
-- If they don't drink and drive.

Anyone game?

 

You might be better off doing a tally of accident injuries at local hospitals over a week/month, then approach and try to persuade Phil Health & Standard (vehicle) Insurance to push local govt to require mandatory driver's education for new drivers to save the insurance companies money that they have to pay out in claims after an accident..

Get the big companies involved and things might start to happen. They'll listen if it means more profit for them?

$$

 

I bang the side of cars that don't stop for me, and bikes I call out stop you fking idiot

 

I have as much problem with other foreigners who are "only driving like the locals" and I have less tolerance for them as the foreigners are more likely to holler out: "Get out of my f'ckin' way!!!" as they drive down the road they obviously own.

At least with the filipinos I can have more tolerance as i believe that most are new drivers who have had no real training. What excuse do the foreigners give?

This comes from my experience of 30 years as a professional driver. I also learned, in that time, that non professional drivers think that any idiot can drive. They prove it daily.

 

I will edit my post I bang the side of cars that don't stop for me on the foot crossings, and bikes I call out stop you fking idiot[/QUOTE]

 

Well how can they have experience as a driver or a rider when they mealy buy the drivers license, they bye pass the med check, driving test etc,

 

What is required for a foreigner to obtain a Driver's Licence in Dumaguete? I cannot ride a Bike due to my permanently broken leg, but I would like to buy myself a small Suzuki Van once I save the funds to do so as the Tricycle I bought can be a PITA!

 

Careful

[/QUOTE]

You should be very careful doing that!

Two years ago there was a very well known case in my old subdivision in Manila of a foreigner (ex-marine) being beaten to death by four young local kids for doing exactly what you are doing.

Of course all 4 kids walked way from the court house despite CCTV footage of the entire event.

 

500 pesos and a wink

 

Dear asawa had to go to Bacong to buy (*ahem*) pay for her Licence as she was told it would be easier there... Might look into that myself when I get back

I wasn't sure if I needed to apply here (Australia) for an International Licence to be able to drive a Car in the Philippines. I have driven Left Hand Drive Cars in the past, but only on Australian Roads, so have to remember to drive on the RIGHT side of the Road! :p

I plan to apply there for the 13a Permanent Resident Visa once I am back there, so was unsure what would be required of me.

Thanks