Manila traffic: the agony, without the ecstasy

One billion. That’s how many cars there now are on Earth, according to a recent report in the UK newspaper theGuardian. Pick a city anywhere on the planet, and one can be certain that traffic is a problem. But one metro area in particular stands out – Manila, Philippines, with a population of almost 12 million people. The city is notorious for its traffic mess, especially since traffic laws are all but ignored, and a clean driving record is a bribe away.

“It does not take foreigners in Manila long to notice that Filipinos tend to consider traffic laws optional, not mandatory. People load, unload and park their cars and trucks pretty much anywhere they please. They disregard traffic signals and sometimes cruise down the wrong side of streets,” reportsGMA News Online, a Filipino publication.

Getting stuck on Manila’s roads is one very unpleasant experience. During rush hour, traffic in the main thoroughfares in Manila slows to a crawl, and an accident can cause gridlock for hours.

Source:

http://www.latitudenews.com/story/manila-traffic-the-agony-without-the-ecstasy/