8 scariest vehicles in the Philippines

Driving on the roads of our country can be a daunting and scary experience. Among other things that will give any driver a fright are: the horrendous traffic that lasts for hours, the potholes and on-going construction work, malicious drivers, inadequate road signs and the eerie noise of car horns. There is also the occasional (which recently has been prevalent) road rage and buses jumping down sky ways or ravines. However, this daily Halloween-like calvary is never complete without the eight scariest vehicles in the Philippines that will surely give your heart a frightful thumping. Be warned. Unlike the creepy crawlies of folk tales, these road creatures haunt us during the day.

8. Reckless buses in EDSA

Imagine yourself running late for work, and you wonder what’s holding the long line of vehicles in EDSA. After travelling a few yards, you discover that, lo and behold, there is a pack of buses occupying almost all of the lanes competing for desperate commuters. Often, when these so called “flying coffins” are not helping to build up traffic, they are out bullying other smaller vehicles and even have the nerve to speed up like they are on a drag race. It's especially scary when you are in one of the buses that has the reputation of carrying passengers to their grave. Scare Factor: Hustling for more passengers could cause a serious accident. And a bus stop is a magnet for these boxy creatures to put the pedal to the metal. Avoid the buses with the initials DM; and a provincial bus starting with F and a state in the US.

7. Underbone motorcycles on major roads

These guys would surely put Ghost Rider to shame- drivers wearing only a sando, slippers and not even their helmets. They often speed up om major roads just to feel the need for speed or at least catch up to those cars around them. A scarier scenario appears when they have children on the backseat. And don’t get us started with riding on tandems- they are like some of the mythical creatures that strike fear into anyone on the road- drivers and pedestrians alike. Scare Factor:  In 2010, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) reported that there are 3.48 million registered motorcycles in the country and another 1 million that are unregistered. In Metro Manila, some 17,097 road accidents involving motorcycles were recorded by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

6. Illegal street-race cars

It is almost frightful to think that you are in one of the car chase scene in the The Fast and the Furious movie, and unfortunately you are not Vin Diesel, but just some cameo car that gets to hit the unsuspecting light post. Seeing a street-race car just beside you at a stop light intersection will almost instantly give you the chills. Like urban legends, they come back once in a while, especially on the dimly lit road named after a former president in Pasay. Scare Factor: It’s quite scary to imagine a car going more than the speed limit, especially in the depths of the night. Drag racing can be enjoyable in a controlled environment, such as a racetrack, but if done on the local roads is a recipe for disaster.

5. A clunky kuliglig

The sounds they make are sinful to the ears and their smoke could give a Kapre a run for his puff. In some areas of Metro Manila, they have the nerves to even go onto major roads, oblivious of the fact that they could be caught by traffic enforcers. Scare Factor: A vehicle with a modified engine, non-standard brakes, and a weak framework is a moving time bomb. If you are a car driver, rear ending this vehicle would be the last thing in your mind. If you think an accident is costly, then don’t get involved with this modified trike.

4. Trailer truck with logs

They're massive, eat up a lot of road space, and move very slow. These factors make you want to overtake them the minute you see them. The thing is, there is no straight road for you to get around this mammoth. But you risk it on the next corner without realizing the other lane has a car coming. This is just one of the classic examples of road accidents in the countryside. Scare Factor: The most vile types of trailer trucks out there are the ones carrying huge loads of logs or lumber. Being at the rear of this vehicle would cause you to worry, wondering if those logs will just slip and hit your car. Or if it slows down, will it impale your windshield? Oh, the gore!

3. Car with a protocol plate

What kind of car is scarier to accidentally rear than a European luxury car? An American or Japanese car with a protocol plate- those with the single digits, especially the dreaded number 8. There is about 290 members of congress, but notice that there are thousands of the “8” in Metro Manila. When provoked, you might see yourself in one of those gun totting scenarios with their body guards. Scare Factor: These specially plated SUVs (which allegedly come with a complimentary sedan when representatives buy them at car dealerships) shout “get out of the way, VIP coming.” Forget about the sirens (wangwang), this works better.

2. An MRT or PNR train

The incident involving one of the MRT trains being derailed at its Pasay-Taft Avenue station last August, opened up a new reality. Trains are also causing some of the road accidents in Metro Manila; that or car drivers who speed up when driving through a railway crossing like that at the PNR Buendia station in Sergio Oseme ña. Scare Factor: Survival rate in these accidents is usually low. Trains are also a daily thing in the Philippines, and one can not help but wonder if those metal poles could really hold a derailed train. Experience tells us it can not.

1. A police car

Seeing a police car somehow forces you to release some adrenaline. Either they are preying for their next motorist or an (covert?!) operation is in place. Doubly would you hear race, if you have done something wrong… like driving your car that ends in 1 on a Monday. But seriously, local enforcements have become a source of worry rather than safety. Scare Factor: Driving in EDSA, now poses more danger than just being bullied by a bus, worrying about those nimble motorcycles or getting stuck in traffic. There is also the danger of being a victim of “hulidap.”