Crash!

Bus Safety in the Philippines

This is my opinion only, based on my observations and not a scientific study – I have taken many bus rides in the Philippines and have not yet met with disaster but have seen more than a dozen nasty wrecks along the way.

This picture was taken in Samar a few weeks ago. The highway here has just recently been paved and the traffic is moving along at a much faster clip than it used to.

Both the drivers and the people living on the roads edge are still making adjustments to the new conditions. In this case a young toddler of about 2+ years dashed out into the road and the driver instinctively swerved directly into a concrete pillar. Fortunately, no one was killed but there were a few injuries.

It often seems that the buses are going to fast for the conditions but they almost always seem to weave through the obstacles unscathed.

Occasionally, flat tires or mechanical defects contribute to wrecks but I feel fairly secure riding the bus in the Philippines.

The island of Samar has had major road rebuilding projects this year and now has a first class paved highway.

Drivers tend to go to fast because they have had to deal with horrendous rutted and muddy roads roads that it is like being set free to fly. Some of the mini van drivers really try and sometimes the result is really bad.

Some of the truck drivers loose control on the turns.

Bus Safety