In the United States, and in other parts of the world, the stereotype of the “bad Asian driver” has become so familiar, it is almost seen as fact. While the term is offensive and generalizing, particularly in today’s hyper-sensitive world where an honest mistake like misaddressing somebody can lead to fines and possible jail time, many are fighting to debunk the label. However, while not trying to reinforce the stereotype, having lived in Bacolod City for the past five years and observing the attitudes and methods of local motorists, if the same habits are being introduced into new environments (in particular, one where traffic laws are meaningful and are enforced) it is understandable why such ideas become accepted.
A 2017 study by Ford Philippines found 43 percent of those surveyed were aware of cases where somebody they know was involved in a near-miss collision because they were distracted while driving, particularly by mobile phones.
A report by GMA News quoted a statement by Ford that said, “A quarter of young females said they have taken either a photo or a selfie while behind the steering wheel.” It went on to say, “Despite the much-publicized dangers of using a phone while driving, mobile phone usage continues to be a leading cause of death and serious injury on roads in Asia-Pacific.”
Beyond those compelled to continue their obsessive phone behavior while operating a motor vehicle, there are also the everyday behaviors on the road that have become a part of the “Welcome to the Philippines” routine, used as an excuse for poor habits exhibited by local residents.
Something that has been discussed in the past is this apparent concept of always having to be first. Beyond driving, it is also exhibited in how people walk, the way they rush to get to a door first (and subsequently refuse to hold it for the person they were clearly “in a race” with) or rush to get onto an escalator first when spotting another person looking to use it – can only assume there is some kind of satisfaction on the part of the person who got there first. The same goes for driving, however, this matter is much more dangerous when it comes to driving since two people bumping into each other because one is trying rush is nowhere equivalent to two vehicles bumping into each other.
When merging onto a road in Bacolod City, most drivers seem unwilling to wait for their turn and either drive right into traffic, assuming all oncoming vehicles will just stop for them, or will jut their car in the middle of the road as a way of forcing cars to stop because they can no longer pass and the offending driver pretends the stopped drivers are waiting for them to pass. Both methods expose an arrogance with many drivers, who appear to believe they are the only ones deserving of courtesy on the roads.
Even when the roles are reversed, many times when waiting to merge into traffic, it is obvious, when the road appears to be clear, many drivers will speed up to keep others cars from coming into the road. The reason becomes visibly intentional since, once they pass the merging vehicle, they return to the slow pace they were at initially.
The same goes for many drivers who force themselves into a line of traffic, they slow down once they’re in, seemingly trying to assert themselves in front of those they are now in front of.
In Bacolod City, with traffic continuing to be unfettered and continuously becoming more chaotic, such actions seem to be accepted as “the proper way to drive.”
Take those same actions and put them on a foreign road, they say the driver “cut off” other motorists. This is not suggesting drivers of other races do not partake in the same actions – they do – but it is understood cutting off other drivers is not acceptable and they’re just jerks. A contrast to Bacolod City drivers thinking cutting other people off is the status quo; “Welcome to the Philippines.”
In the United States, reports of cars driving against the flow of traffic are few and far between and the cases that do come up, almost always, the driver is under the influence of alcohol. Take one drive down any road in Bacolod City and the acceptance of “counterflowing” vehicles is more than apparent. On a regular basis, drivers operate down the wrong side of the road, either out of convenience or (as mentioned earlier) a desire to be first – and nobody bats an eye when they see it happening.
It is jarring to witness an act, typically associated with behavior when somebody is drunk, is routine for average drivers throughout the city.
Try driving against traffic in another country, for sure the driver will be pulled over and subject to a breathalyzer.
A completely foreign concept experienced while on the roads in Bacolod City are the ways in which drivers will often merge into another lane even if there is a car occupying the space. In other counties, drivers usually wait for a space if they plan on shifting lanes, often times using a blinker to signal other drivers of their intentions; however, there are still instances of drivers cutting others off, but those are not the majority of cases. Locally, it would seem drivers are more than willing to come within centimeters of ramming another vehicle off the road; some even use a blinker as if to justify forcing themselves into a space that would not even accommodate for their hood (jeepney operators usually employ such tactics).
The idea that Asians are generally bad drivers is an international phenomenon. In just one google search of “Asian drivers,” found news articles from the United States, Canada, and New Zealand regarding the belief.
A 2016 article in the Vancouver Sun discussed letters to the newspaper demanding studies looking into traffic accidents and how they correlate with ethnicity, particularly with “inherently terrible Asian drivers.” Last year, a Huffington Post piece showed a traffic sign in California that was hijacked to read “Caution Asian Drivers.” There was also an article published just yesterday in the New Zealand Herald that talked about an ongoing campaign to combat the stereotype.
While it is wrong to generalize a race over any matter, experiencing the traffic situation in Bacolod City (and being completely disgusted by it), given the old adage, all stereotypes are based on some kind of truth – and knowing bad habits are hard to break – it is blatantly apparent where this one comes from./WDJ