Here’s a couple of good reason for me — or for any motorist for that matter — to exterminate with extreme prejudice those frigging Jeepney drivers and wipe them off the face of this planet…
Oh yes, those are my car’s driver’s and rear passenger doors… after getting plowed by an errant jeepney.
It happened last week just a few meters away from the place where I work. The jeepney, one of the many that use the already narrow street in front of our office as their own garage and private terminal, was on a reverse course (read: going the wrong way on a one way street) presumably to get in line in their makeshift terminal in the corner. For some unknown reason, the stupid driver never noticed I was on his path and kept on going. I tried to give way by swerving but it was too late, the bumper had already hit the driver’s side door. As if that wasn’t enough to jolt him (and me), the jeepney continued to plow its merry way to the passenger side door…
… and finally ending its path of destruction on my rear fender.
Pissed, no, actually, I was more than pissed, I was furious at the driver who had just now realized what he had done. But the worst was yet to come. Confronting the driver and trying to keep my cool (that was after I hurled a few unprintables at the guy) at the same time, I decided to forgo the usual exchange of insurance info (just as well since you’ll have a tougher time asking for insurance from these jeepney operators) I just told him to pay me for the damage he had done which, in my estimate, would be around P10,000 minimum, and we’re done.
To make a long story short, I never got the full amount that I wanted. “Driver lang po ako eh, wala naman akong ganyang kalaking halaga (I’m just a driver and I don’t have that much money with me)” was all he could mutter, and said that he’ll talk to the vehicle’s owner, or operator, to help pay for the damages. Thing is, the operator was also broke as hell, and I was only able to get less than half of what am about to spend fixing the car, and unfortunately, wouldn’t be enough to pay for the other expenses such as insurance participation either.
I don’t have anything against jeepney drivers (well, ok, I do have a LOT of beef against them), they are, after all, making an honest living like everyone else in the city. But the sad, and oftentimes infuriating thing is, these guys can be arrogant as hell, and that’s the reason why the jeepney is oftentimes called “the king of the road”. And yet, when push comes to shove such as what happened to me last week, all these road warriors could mutter is “sorry na lang”…
S–t happens, doesn’t it?
I commiserate.
Yes, write about these daredevil kaskaseros. Add other experiences to your own. Am sure you would be able to compile volumes!!
dang , i’d run after his insurance
Many years ago i was hit by a stupid jeepney who failed to see the red light near Luneta of all palces. It damaged by back severely. i chased the insurance and they fixed my car. that was back then though 
BBC years ago rated our jeepney drivers the best drivers in the world; guess that’s out of the window now.
Wasn’t 10k you’re asking for sounded cheap; most in the US, that kind of wreck (looking at the pics), is at least a thousand dollars. But Los Angeles will probably fix that for 200 dollars.
Condolence to the car; and to your personal misery. Cheers na lang, at least you’re not hurt.
buti di ka nasaktan. hamo na, matututo na siguro iyang magdahan-dahan next time.