Pinoy Daredevils

When I wrote my post on Pinoy drivers a few days ago, I did not include motorcycle drivers for one simple reason - they have a league all their own.



A few months back, after a terrible accident where the back of Joel's pickup was whacked by a bus (he was on a halt due to a stoplight along C-5 when a speeding bus loses it's brakes and hits the rear of the vehicle, turning the pickup's body into an accordion and sending him to a hospital for a suspected whiplash injury) he wanted to try his hand at motorcycles (masochistic???) since the repair of his pickup would take at least 6 weeks. I was hesitant at first but when he was cleared of any injury and signed up for motorcycle safety lessons, I gave in. I was surprised to hear some of the basic safety guidelines since very few, if not none at all, are observed by motorcycle daredevils, I mean drivers in our country. Allow me to elucidate.

Headlights should be ON for additional visibility, even at daytime! This one I rarely see.

Body positioning is crucial. It is ideal that the passenger put his/her hands on the driver's waist. Waist, beywang. Not at the back, not at the chest, not anywhere else. It helps the driver balance the his weight, the motorcycle's, and the passenger's.

Take this for instance, this is the correct posture for the passenger.

Not this,Not this,
The motorcycle is designed for one person only. Inuulit ko, pang isang tao lang talaga yon. Although maybe due to economic reasons, they allow up to 2 passengers. I'm amazed that I can sometimes find 3, even 4 people in one motorcycle especially outside Metro Manila. Violators of this rule would sometimes bring their wife or GF with them, sometimes kids, friends, co-workers. Why not bring along your nanay, tatay, lolo, lola, sama mo na paty kapitbahay mo. Isukbit mo sa balikat mo para kumpleto na kayo. Heck, I don't know if the driver is suicidal and/ or homicidal.

Helmet, helmet, helmet. It is not a mere embellishment. It is a type of protective headgear. The primary goal being, to protect your stubborn head from impact.
For examplePakisuot mo ang helmet mo tatangMagpapakamatay ka na lang, nagsama ka pa O isa pa 'toA baseball cap does NOT qualify as protective headgear................. You're wearing it all wrong shungak Mas mabuti pa yung pasahero mo marunong mag helmetUse helmets that pass D.O.T. standards............
This is interesting, a policeman, in uniform, without a helmet. Tsk tsk tsk, alagad ka pa mandin ng batas

I SPY.... 2 violators........

TA DA........My biggest catch of the day. Two traffic enforcers without helmets, ang lalakas ng loob nyo manghuli, numero uno naman kayong violator!

Well, the happy ending is, Joel sold his 1-month old motorcycle. Mas masarap pa rin daw sa kotse. To quote my dear sis Roselle (o hayan, special mention ka) 'the difference between driving a motorcycle and driving a car.........in a motorcycle, you wrap yourself around metal.................in a car, you are enveloped in metal'

Hay naku, batu bato sa langit ang tamaan ay swangit ....................