I got the unenviable task of driving from Alabang through EDSA and Commonwealth by cage early Tuesday evening for a meeting in QC. It felt like one big parking lot, with every vehicle trying to outmaneuver each other for the next available space. It was terrible, to put it mildly. I don't envy motorists who pass these gridlocks every day. But what really caught my attention was the number of motorcycles filtering through and trying to out-maneuver cages in these dangerous roads. I stopped counting after 50 bikes in a short period of time. Motorcyclists I saw looked like your typical workers going home from work. While a majority wore helmets (mostly dark) and had working MC taillights, NOT ONE wore a reflective vest and it was really difficult for me to see them especially from afar.

On the radio, there was news about a couple riding in tandem being hit by a cage and dying. Then there was this other rider getting his leg cut off in an accident. MMDA personnel being interviewed harped on the same old laments about rider lacking discipline. In my opinion, a law requiring riders to wear reflective vests at all times (but especially at night) would likely cut the number of accidents significantly, since a lot of accidents are attributable to poor rider visibility... this plus a comprehensive educational campaign for riders. If these people are given statistics and taught the immeasurable benefit reflective clothing could add to their safety margin, maybe, just maybe, they would wear these and we would see less accidents on our roads.

Just my two cents, sirs.

Amen to that Sir!

....there was a time that it was MANDATORY for me to wear reflective vests after 1800 and at day time, light colored clothing when operating a two wheeled vehicle.

I actually liked the idea coz i know it increases the chance of me being seen. (-:

Good thread!

up natin...

reflectorized vest po is a must talaga.. :D

ride safe.. :D

up natin...

reflectorized vest po is a must talaga.. :D

ride safe.. :D

I absolutely agree on that! Kaya ako I make it a habit to wear my reflectorized vest kung hindi man jacket na visible sa mga naka cage.. Pang dagdag pansin na rin especially dun sa mga naka dark tint ang salamin.... :)

Boto ako dito. No harm wearing it during daytime, either.

while i agree that increasing visibility is a good thing, i must insist that it be a personal choice... i am really against overregulation and safety nazis...

while i agree that increasing visibility is a good thing, i must insist that it be a personal choice... i am really against overregulation and safety nazis...

i agree with you sir

I got the unenviable task of driving from Alabang through EDSA and Commonwealth by cage early Tuesday evening for a meeting in QC. It felt like one big parking lot, with every vehicle trying to outmaneuver each other for the next available space. It was terrible, to put it mildly. I don't envy motorists who pass these gridlocks every day. But what really caught my attention was the number of motorcycles filtering through and trying to out-maneuver cages in these dangerous roads. I stopped counting after 50 bikes in a short period of time. Motorcyclists I saw looked like your typical workers going home from work. While a majority wore helmets (mostly dark) and had working MC taillights, NOT ONE wore a reflective vest and it was really difficult for me to see them especially from afar.

On the radio, there was news about a couple riding in tandem being hit by a cage and dying. Then there was this other rider getting his leg cut off in an accident. MMDA personnel being interviewed harped on the same old laments about rider lacking discipline. In my opinion, a law requiring riders to wear reflective vests at all times (but especially at night) would likely cut the number of accidents significantly, since a lot of accidents are attributable to poor rider visibility... this plus a comprehensive educational campaign for riders. If these people are given statistics and taught the immeasurable benefit reflective clothing could add to their safety margin, maybe, just maybe, they would wear these and we would see less accidents on our roads.

Just my two cents, sirs.


Good inputs...Hopefully there are jackets with reflectors in it already so they could be worn at all times...:banana:

while i agree that increasing visibility is a good thing, i must insist that it be a personal choice... i am really against overregulation and safety nazis...

I would agree with this if we were in a well-informed, progressive society. In this country where even broken taillights are taken for granted:eek:, we have to first get to a level where every motorcycle rider is fully aware it is just stupid not to have a working taillight and not to maximize one's visibility on the road, and it is to his best interest to be clearly seen and noticed. But till that time comes, I vote for requiring reflectorized clothing for riders.

Again, observe the daily grind in EDSA. I am pretty sure most of these riders would welcome getting a freebie vest from an organization like the LMFI or even the Rotary should they opt to donate free vests . But would they wear them henceforth? I am not so certain they would.

while i agree that increasing visibility is a good thing, i must insist that it be a personal choice... i am really against overregulation and safety nazis...
amen! exactly as i would have said it.

I would agree with this if we were in a well-informed, progressive society. In this country where even broken taillights are taken for granted:eek:, we have to first get to a level where every motorcycle rider is fully aware it is just stupid not to have a working taillight and not to maximize one's visibility on the road, and it is to his best interest to be clearly seen and noticed. But till that time comes, I vote for requiring reflectorized clothing for riders.

Again, observe the daily grind in EDSA. I am pretty sure most of these riders would welcome getting a freebie vest from an organization like the LMFI or even the Rotary should they opt to donate free vests . But would they wear them henceforth? I am not so certain they would.
i cannot agree on voluntarily giving up my right to choose (those that do not affect the rights of others) to satisfy the need of some to dictate their personal safety standards upon others...

what's next???

- 100bhp is too much for a street bike???
- literbikes are too powerful for the street (bah!!!)???
- everyone must wear leathers when riding (leathers offer better crash protection than textile)???
- race-class boots must be worn when riding (these are safer than touring boots)???

what's to stop someone from imposing their own personal beliefs on safety upon us if we voluntarily give up our own rights to begin with??? what if someone in authority pushes for the passing of a law requiring full 1 piece leather suits are required to use edsa???

if we start imposing our own personal standards on others, where does it end???

if someone decides to ride wearing shorts, sandals and a tshirt, that's his/her decision... i am not about to stop and say "hey! you're being unsafe!"... it's his/her free will to wear what he/she wants... if they crash, that's their problem... will i help??? of course, i will... will i put up the smug "i told you so" attitude or be fekkin preachy??? no... he/she would be reaping the effects of their decision... so long as it did not affect the rights of others (particularly mine), i couldn't care less about what they were wearing and put more attention to getting them medical help...

i understand you're thinking of what's "best" for the riders you see... but what happens if someone decides that what's best is to ban you from using a motorcycle because "motorcycles are too dangerous" and your "best" interest would be served by banning such dangerous devices???

para sa safety dn natin yung reflectorized vest.. hinde naman kawalan ng pogi points kung naka ganun tyu..

share ko lng, kahit na minsan eh naka reflectorized vest and protective gears kailangan pa dn natin mag doble ingat.. madami pa dn na buset na cage drivers.. hinde lang buset bopols pa.. nung saturday natin kasi on my way home sa edsa ako dumaan, abay lintik na revo busina ng busina sa likod ko, alam ko nakikita nya ako dahil naka reflectorized vest ako.. gusto ata nya gumilid ako ng todo para makadaan lng sya.. halos nasa tabi na ako ng mrt walls.. pasaway tlga.. nagmamadali yung driver pag dating naman ng cubao ilalim traffic kaya sabi ko buti nga at trapik.. hehehehe..

i cannot agree on voluntarily giving up my right to choose (those that do not affect the rights of others) to satisfy the need of some to dictate their personal safety standards upon others...

what's next???

- 100bhp is too much for a street bike???
- literbikes are too powerful for the street (bah!!!)???
- everyone must wear leathers when riding (leathers offer better crash protection than textile)???
- race-class boots must be worn when riding (these are safer than touring boots)???

what's to stop someone from imposing their own personal beliefs on safety upon us if we voluntarily give up our own rights to begin with??? what if someone in authority pushes for the passing of a law requiring full 1 piece leather suits are required to use edsa???

if we start imposing our own personal standards on others, where does it end???

if someone decides to ride wearing shorts, sandals and a tshirt, that's his/her decision... i am not about to stop and say "hey! you're being unsafe!"... it's his/her free will to wear what he/she wants... if they crash, that's their problem... will i help??? of course, i will... will i put up the smug "i told you so" attitude or be fekkin preachy??? no... he/she would be reaping the effects of their decision... so long as it did not affect the rights of others (particularly mine), i couldn't care less about what they were wearing and put more attention to getting them medical help...

i understand you're thinking of what's "best" for the riders you see... but what happens if someone decides that what's best is to ban you from using a motorcycle because "motorcycles are too dangerous" and your "best" interest would be served by banning such dangerous devices???

Very well said.

I couldn't agree more.

i dont think the reflective's vest effectivity or the safety it provide is in question. i believe, if worn properly will give us visibility, a point in safety, no doubt. But, wearing it or not wearing it should be up to the rider. Freedom baby!! peace

i'm looking for a reflective vest as well...

but i must say, i agree with what sir boylit has posted.

One question, and please give us your most objective answers: I wonder how many would wear helmets in this country if these were made optional and personal choices? :eek: Give it your best shot. 1%? 50%? 100%?

One question, and please give us your most objective answers: I wonder how many would wear helmets in this country if these were made optional and personal choices? :eek: Give it your best shot. 1%? 50%? 100%?

OT:
if it was optional, i'd still wear a helmet.

dapat lng talaga to e2 samplehttp://photos.friendster.com/photos/22/99/16769922/1_222775155l.jpg

One question, and please give us your most objective answers: I wonder how many would wear helmets in this country if these were made optional and personal choices? :eek: Give it your best shot. 1%? 50%? 100%?
personally, i wouldn't care if one wants to wear a helmet or not... in fact, i'd support a move to have the helmet law repealed...

I would really be interested in your answer to the question.:)

Aside for my reflectorized vest...i wear regulary after 1700hrs or bad weather
my bikes rear fender is full of reflectorized tape, not just an ordinary...
its a marine type.. and SOLAS approved...
its a matter of choice and no need for another law...
but in our club it was agreed upon the use of reflectorized..

I would really be interested in your answer to the question.:)

i'd say less than 20%... i'm being optimistic...

here's mine..courtesy of CMC which required all its members and aspirants to wear one during ride....

thanks CMC...

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa156/might_tor/021020082890.jpg

took picture of it during night and see the visibility..... motorist from behind can easily see you with that vest...

i'd say less than 20%... i'm being optimistic...

I guess 20% or thereabouts. Right now when there is a law requiring helmets, maybe only 50-60% of riders in Manila wear them. The numbers dwindle significantly as you move farther away from the cities.

I appreciate the zeal of the mods in religiously monitoring the threads. I just feel the topic shouldn't have been moved from "motorcycle safety" to "attire and stuff .." Para kasing na-trivialize ang issue.. but that's your call of course.

here's mine..courtesy of CMC which required all its members and aspirants to wear one during ride....

thanks CMC...

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa156/might_tor/021020082890.jpg

took picture of it during night and see the visibility..... motorist from behind can easily see you with that vest...

Uhhhh....why wasn't your tail light turned on?

Uhhhh....why wasn't your tail light turned on?

di pa naka on yung makina, bosing. park mode lang.

Emphasis on the reflectorized vest perhaps.

di pa naka on yung makina, bosing. park mode lang.

Ok...but then, I think it would help if you keep your lights on...para makita ka....with or without reflective or glow in the dark vests.

Don't park in the middle of the dark road, too....or at least keep your lights on.

Ok...but then, I think it would help if you keep your lights on...para makita ka....with or without reflective or glow in the dark vests.

Don't park in the middle of the dark road, too....or at least keep your lights on.

nakatayo po ako nyan sa loob ng bahay...testmode lang po sa vest....cant you see the stairs and the motorcycle parked at the side??? :):)

nakatayo po ako nyan sa loob ng bahay...testmode lang po sa vest....cant you see the stairs and the motorcycle parked at the side??? :):)

Ohhh...I see. Somebody could've bumped into the stairs or your bike in the dark.. we could have seen them if the lights were on.

up natin...

reflectorized vest po is a must talaga.. :D

ride safe.. :D

i agree with u sir kailangan talagang mag reflectorized vest kapag gabi para maging visible sa ibang driver or rider....

ako meron na ko reflectorize vest wear ko ito everytime ride ko baby ko...lalo na pag edsa ako daan...tapos me relectorize sticker yon helmet ko at me reflectorize sticker yon flairing ko..

tapos nilagyan ko pa ng relectorize sticker iyong magz ko...tas binigyan pa ko ng kuya ko ng ilaw na flourescent sa tail..

ayun ang liwanag ko siguro sa daan..gusto ko nga lagyan ng ilaw lahat ng parte ng bike ko parang bolang liwanag na umaandar ako hehehhe..

bibili pa nga ko ng umiilaw na pito sa gulong para dagdag liwanag..

from bulacan to edsa qc di biro na viaje ito lalo na pag inabutan ako ng dilim sa daan..

kasama ang defensive driving at slow speed kasi sympre iba na pag gabi medyo antok na lahat ng mga driver natin cage at mc...not to mention mga balatuba na mc raider pag dating na sa bulacan na walang helmet at mabibilis na magpatakbo hehehe..

amen to the suggestion sir.....maganda talaga na me safety vest pag gabi lalo na along edsa...

Try looking at this link. This video and photos were taken during the castrol-scooterista ride to tagaytay.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=wWosw5378sU
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/marioverzosa/Scooterista%202008/DSC00924.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/marioverzosa/Scooterista%202008/DSC00928.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/marioverzosa/Scooterista%202008/DSC00056.jpg

Ganyan mag ride ang CMC. Laging disiplinado. Hehehehe :D

personally, i wouldn't care if one wants to wear a helmet or not... in fact, i'd support a move to have the helmet law repealed...

+ 1 here. Helmet use is being implemented by the government but if I get involved in an accident wearing one, what do I get? none. Does the govt pay for my hospital bills? no. I will still shoulder everything. If I crash & die & i was wearing all protective gears being required, will they shoulder my burial expenses? nope, but if I wasnt wearing a helmet, or maybe in slippers plying EDSA, ill be paying fines.

Point for me is, safety should be a matter of personal choice & not govt imposed dahil wala naman ako mahihita kung sakaling madisgrasya ako kahit may helmet ako.

Try looking at this link. This video and photos were taken during the castrol-scooterista ride to tagaytay.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=wWosw5378sU
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/marioverzosa/Scooterista%202008/DSC00924.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/marioverzosa/Scooterista%202008/DSC00928.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/marioverzosa/Scooterista%202008/DSC00056.jpg

Ganyan mag ride ang CMC. Laging disiplinado. Hehehehe :D

Ganda ng pics mga sir...kudos to CMC!!

personally, i wouldn't care if one wants to wear a helmet or not... in fact, i'd support a move to have the helmet law repealed...


+ 1 here. Helmet use is being implemented by the government but if I get involved in an accident wearing one, what do I get? none. Does the govt pay for my hospital bills? no. I will still shoulder everything. If I crash & die & i was wearing all protective gears being required, will they shoulder my burial expenses? nope, but if I wasnt wearing a helmet, or maybe in slippers plying EDSA, ill be paying fines.

Point for me is, safety should be a matter of personal choice & not govt imposed dahil wala naman ako mahihita kung sakaling madisgrasya ako kahit may helmet ako.

I agree too.

But sadly we shall be branded as heretics.

Back to the topic of proposing mandatory glow in the dark vests....NOT!

I know I am VERY visible with my headlights, tail lights, and signal lights...If you still can't see me, you're legally blind and shouldn't be driving.

I agree too.

But sadly we shall be branded as heretics.

Back to the topic of proposing mandatory glow in the dark vests....NOT!

I know I am VERY visible with my headlights, tail lights, and signal lights...If you still can't see me, you're legally blind and shouldn't be driving.

don't get me wrong... my point is purely one of freedom... i personally wear a reflective strap/vest when i ride at night... be that as it may, i still believe that it should be a choice made by us and not made for us...

don't get me wrong... my point is purely one of freedom... i personally wear a reflective strap/vest when i ride at night... be that as it may, i still believe that it should be a choice made by us and not made for us...

No I didn't get you wrong...what you just wrote just proves that those who are against mandatory helmet RULES are not against helmet USE.

Most people can't tell the difference. They'd rather brand people who don't think their way as stupid. That's why they want mandatory rules imposed on everyone.

the good street-legal bike has good active lighting and directional techniques so one need not be forced to wear reflective vests. or else, it should not pass registration procedure and thus deemed road-unworthy.

+ 1 here. Helmet use is being implemented by the government but if I get involved in an accident wearing one, what do I get?

Uhmm.. your life perhaps:?:?

http://www.motorcycle-accidents.com/pages/stats.html

7. The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.

44. The most deadly injuries to the accident victims were injuries to the chest and head.

45. The use of the safety helmet is the single critical factor in the prevention of reduction of head injury; the safety helmet which complies with FMVSS 218 is a significantly effective injury countermeasure.

46. Safety helmet use caused no attenuation of critical traffic sounds, no limitation of pre crash visual field, and no fatigue or loss of attention; no element of accident causation was related to helmet use.

48. Helmeted riders and passengers showed significantly lower head and neck injury for all types of injury, at all levels of injury severity.

49. The increased coverage of the full facial coverage helmet increases protection, and significantly reduces face injuries.

50. There is not liability for neck injury by wearing a safety helmet; helmeted riders had less neck injuries than unhelmeted riders. Only four minor injuries were attributable to helmet use, and in each case the helmet prevented possible critical or fatal head injury.

I would wear one. A schoolmate of mine was run over by a truck as he stopped on a red light and the truck behind him decided to beat it. He was on a big bike with working tail lights and the truck ran over him to get to the other side. He was also with a group of riders who didnt notice that he was left behind dead.

As boylit said, its a personal choice. Up to you if you want to wear one or not. In my case, i would prefer to wear one.

Uhmm.. your life perhaps:?:?

http://www.motorcycle-accidents.com/pages/stats.html

7. The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.

44. The most deadly injuries to the accident victims were injuries to the chest and head.

45. The use of the safety helmet is the single critical factor in the prevention of reduction of head injury; the safety helmet which complies with FMVSS 218 is a significantly effective injury countermeasure.

46. Safety helmet use caused no attenuation of critical traffic sounds, no limitation of pre crash visual field, and no fatigue or loss of attention; no element of accident causation was related to helmet use.

48. Helmeted riders and passengers showed significantly lower head and neck injury for all types of injury, at all levels of injury severity.

49. The increased coverage of the full facial coverage helmet increases protection, and significantly reduces face injuries.

50. There is not liability for neck injury by wearing a safety helmet; helmeted riders had less neck injuries than unhelmeted riders. Only four minor injuries were attributable to helmet use, and in each case the helmet prevented possible critical or fatal head injury.


What im trying to say is that if you want to die in a crash because you are not wearing safety gears, then so be it. It has to be your choice, dapat hindi ka pakialaman dahil hindi ka naman nanglilimos ng pang motor mo.

What i meant when i said that wala naman ako mahihita is help from the very intitution that imposes the rules (which sadly they do not know how to follow themselves) I wear a DOT/SNELL approved helmet if case you do not know. Im also concerned of my safety. I will still wear a helmet even if the helmet law is repealed because its a personal choice.

I think laws should not be imposed on a selected group. If they require us under the law to wear reflective vests for added visibility they SHOULD ALSO require cages to NOT HAVE HEAVY TINT for the same reason. I think this is our biggest problem in this country. Every thing is myopic. No body sees the bigger picture and everything is just piece meal version of the real solution that works.

And c'mon do you really believe in making helmet wearing optional? Should we make everything optional as well for as long as the only negative effects happens to the person who chooses?

Laws are not perfect and some are just plain stupid, BUT laws which save the stupid from their own stupidity are GOOD laws. IMHO.

And c'mon do you really believe in making helmet wearing optional? Should we make everything optional as well for as long as the only negative effects happens to the person who chooses?

yes and yes

Laws are not perfect and some are just plain stupid, BUT laws which save the stupid from their own stupidity are GOOD laws. IMHO.

sorry but i cannot bring myself to agree with this sentiment...

Laws are not perfect and some are just plain stupid, BUT laws which save the stupid from their own stupidity are GOOD laws. IMHO.
what if we go to the extremes. why not ban motorcycling altogether? it will save a lot of lives, don't you think? a lot of people believe that motorcycling is very risky and they think we are stupid for taking such a risk in our daily commuting.

what if we go to the extremes. why not ban motorcycling altogether? it will save a lot of lives, don't you think? a lot of people believe that motorcycling is very risky and they think we are stupid for taking such a risk in our daily commuting.

That should make accidents involving motorbikes go down to ZERO.

After that, target the other major causes of death (we can't be hypocrites, can we?):

Ban the eating of meat...death due to hypertension goes down.
Ban cigarettes and alcohol...lung and liver cancer should be a things of the past.
Ban sex...STD's should be eradicated, and no woman will die due to giving childbirth.
Ban, well, anything that may potentially cause injury, sickness or death....

What a wonderful world. The way it should be....the wise ruling over the stupid.

@H3nr1

Just a question, what if somebody (declared or proclaimed as "wise") declares you as stupid and then runs your life for you?

what if we go to the extremes. why not ban motorcycling altogether? it will save a lot of lives, don't you think? a lot of people believe that motorcycling is very risky and they think we are stupid for taking such a risk in our daily commuting.

Actually, sir, I think a lot of people believe that you take the same amount of risk riding a motorcycle or driving your cage along EDSA in the wee hours of the morning or crossing commonwealth ave on foot.

We do not live in a world of extremes, nobody will ban cars from plying EDSA between 1AM - 4AM, no one will arrest on site pedestrians at Commonwealth.


I respect you and sir Boylit's opinion in fact as I said if you want us to wear reflectorized vest then please tell the cagers to remove their heavy tint and execute on that law.

But the wearing a helmet should be non-negotiable. It would be a different story if that stupid person i was refering to earlier....turns out to be your family member.

Freedom of choice is useless for the recently run over by a truck. :O

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa156/might_tor/021020082890.jpg


gusto ko eto, saan ba available eto? pasadya ba eto...

@H3nr1

Just a question, what if somebody (declared or proclaimed as "wise") declares you as stupid and then runs your life for you?

@h3lios

That's already happening to all of us :O...You follow the laws of this country, right? hehehe.

Bottomline, is safety. At the end of the day its safety and it should be a measure that AFFECTS ALL. Not just riders but cagers as well as pedestrians.


Ride safe and Peace bro!