Everyone knows about the traffic in Manila. They know that it is always congested and it takes about three times longer than it should really take to get to your desired location. Well, let me explain a little why that is. When you drive around Metro Manila, no one stays in their own lane, actually, to be blunt there basically are no lanes, buses, jeepneys and taxi's stop in the middle of the road may it be a highway or not and pick up or drop off passengers.
If you have ever played a car racing game in an arcade, you would have a good picture of what driving here is like. And that includes people cutting you off. Cars that are an inch away from your vehicle are typical.
Drivers here have their own language. Beeping here doesn't mean "Get out of the way" or "Hurry up" like it would over in Canada. Depending on how many times and the length you beep it could mean those things but most of the time they mean "Watch out I'm on your left/right", "Thank you", "You may take the right of way" and a numerous other things. So honking your horn here isn't necessarily a sign of irritation or agressiveness but can also be a courteous gesture for the drivers around you.
I've been told people don't get pulled over here for speeding, people get pulled over for passing a red light and illegal u-turns... and that's about it. It's amazing how people can do business here as I am sure the traffic is bad for the output of business - to be more efficient. Someone once told me that in his MBA program they were trying to figure out how to improve the traffic in the Philippines and the only solution they could come up with was to destroy the current structure and to start fresh. I think that the traffic is part of the Philippine culture. I don't really find it frustrating as others might. Even though it was scary at first I actually find it humorous somtimes... and being a passenger, the added time to get to places gives me an opportunity to have a nap! So, I say - it's not all that bad :)
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