Horrific moment motorcyclist flew through the air after ploughing head-on into a car - and LIVED WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT - A dashcam filmed a motorist overtaking on double yellow lines - The car smashes into a motorcyclist driving on his correct side of the road - His helmet flies off as he is flung into the air and crashes down on his head - Amazingly it is reported that his is still alive but with an open arm fracture Read the full story here
One of many 'only in the Philippines' driving behaviours. I'm currently seriously considering buying an motor bike at the moment.
I particularly liked the Kawasaki Barako - its a robust 175cc single which is stout enough for local roads, has enough grunt and is very reliable. Oh, and I assume that unlike many local riders you will do up your helmet strap!
The other night, the local Highway Patrol had checkpoints dotted around the city and were stopping all motorcyclists to check helmets and that proper shoes were being worn. That's something that happens quite regularly here in Davao.
The new motorcycle is out. We have serious decisions to contemplate Sometimes life has a habit of throwing a curve ball.............................. more later when we've a better understanding but looks like another major relocation move could be on the cards........................story of my life.
There's plenty here in Mindanao also. Motorcycles are a prime target here. It's the same every time for election
These checks are a regular occurrence here although there are often more around election time. You may have noticed more trucks of armed soldiers (Task Force Davao) on the streets and now that he's a declared candidate for the Presidency, Duterte has an enhanced motorcade.
it's something that happens quite regularly everywhere else remotely urban, too. Especially just before Christmas/Holy Week and during the election season, although during election season they are looking for guns, more than anything else. Mindanao is different to the rest. Roadblocks/checkpoints are much likelier to be military not police. I have only passed by one military checkpoint in Cebu. In Mindanao, most of them are military ones. Helmets, they are getting stricter and stricter about even in the provinces, sometimes the local cops try to get people to wear helmets, although in most rural places still, almost nobody wears helmets. Cebu city is now almost like Manila and it's very rare you see a motorcyclist now without a helmet. I always wear stapped-up sandals on motorbikes in the Philippines, not flip flops however when it is an automatic motorcycle, what does it matter what kind of shoes you wear? You never use your feet at all.
I remember reading awhile back that the legislation, doesn't actually specify that the helmet must be worn on your HEAD, hence many Pinoys zoom around with the helmet essentially on their elbow, wouldn't entirely surprise me!
I once got stopped and fined 200 in Toledo in Cebu when I had the helmet hanging off the rail at the back, which is where I usually have it in the province. I only wear helmets in cities really where I know that I might get stopped and fined - in the province, you won't be. However I had just passed from Balamban into the Toledo city limits and they were having a helmet-wearing drive in the city at the time - my tough luck. Filipinos were being pulled over at the exact same checkpoint too, so it wasn't me being targeted as a foreigner. The cop, who was incidentally ok and not rude or awkward at all, specifically said that having a helmet with you was not enough. You had to be wearing it. Whether it has to be worn on your head I'm not sure, but I'm in the Philippines now and I've never seen anybody wearing a helmet in any other part of their body other than their head. Think about it. It's almost impossible to put it anywhere else. If it was on your lap it would keep falling off.
Oh dear ... thank goodness someone had the sense to get him to hospital. I have seen quite a few motoring accidents where passers-by stop and gawk at the victims but nobody has the compassion or sense to summon an ambulance or the Police. Fortunately this is less a problem in central Davao City where the entire road network is monitored by a control room 24/7 using CCTV. I hope your brother-in-law makes a full recovery.
You might consider this be your GOOD luck, not tough luck, if it encourages you to wear a helmet. Riding a motorcycle in any country at any time is dangerous enough , but not wearing a helmet is tantamount to committing suicide. Before any body makes a comment, yes I have ridden motorcycle all my life and still ride. After sailing it is my my number 1 passion in life, but I would never ride without a helmet.
Odd how often sailing and motorcycling go together. I spent a day on the BMW Club stand at the Copdock Show and spent most of it talking boats, I was fiddling with the carburetors on my 1977 R60/7 parked in my drive when a neighbour walked up, it turns out that he has an RS and a Vancouver 32 whilst I have a K75, the R/60 and an Ohlsson 38. Oh, and a £500 helmet!
Indeed Methersgate, I see a trend here. I have a Harley Davidson '48 Sportster and a 1939 Ariel SQ4. My sailboat is a Hunter 326. I also wear a £500 helmet, Davida at the moment.
