You Think Manila Traffic is Unbearable? Here are 8 Countries in the World that Have it Worse

There are things Filipinos are proud of: Manny Pacquiao, how our Ms. Universe candidates consistently win a top spot at that competition, or whenever Boracay or Puerto Princesa gets mentioned as one of the top tourist destinations in the world. But there are just some top 10 lists where we would rather not be ranked at all! Case in point is Numbeo's Traffic Index for Country 2015 where the Philippines ranked 9th overall.

What with the construction of several elevated roads in the capital such as the Skyway Stage 3 project and the NAIA Expressway Phase 2 which starts from Sales Road to Macapagal Ave., we're bound to suffer through heavy traffic while construction equipment block the roads. Well, at least until these projects are finished and then we could hopefully enjoy a less stressful commute.

It takes an average of almost 54 minutes for Pinoy commuters to go from one place to another in Manila, which ranks 12th in the Numbeo city rankings. Compare that to Nis, Serbia which is at the top of the list where commuters just take an average of 19.60 minutes to travel one way.

So in which countries do drivers and commuters have it worse-off than the Philippines? Here are the 8 countries where drivers have to have greater patience when on the road.

1) Kenya

Drivers spend over an hour (65.20 minutes) on average to travel one way in Kenya. If Pinoys have to deal with “buwaya” cops on the road, Kenyans have to literally deal with lions blocking the road during rush hour traffic.

2) Egypt

It takes an average of 56.85 minutes to travel one way in Egypt. With 20 million calling the capital of Cairo home and around 2 million cars motorists, you're bound to get heavy traffic. According to CityMetric, the traffic situation in Cairo is so bad that it is costing the country a whopping 4% off its GDP.

3) Bangladesh

In the capital of Dhaka, commuters take an average of 57.67 minutes to travel one way.

4) Bolivia

You may have seen dancing traffic enforcers here in Manila and they do help entertain drivers as they wait for the traffic light to turn green. On the other side of the globe, authorities in the Bolivian capital of La Paz are dealing with the traffic situation by having traffic enforcers dressed in zebra costumes. The costumed enforcers jump in front of traffic to force cars to stop. (Gives a whole new meaning to “zebra crossings”)

5) Nigeria

One reporter from The Atlantic described going on a 40-mile (65 kms.) trip in Nigeria, which turned into an epic 12-hour journey. That's a long time considering that the same distance is the same as Manila to Tanauan.

6) Jordan

Traffic is not just bad in Jordan, they're also dangerous for pedestrians. The World Health Organization says that more than a third of the road traffic fatalities in the country are pedestrians.

7) Iran

Road safety is also a concern in Iran. In fact, WHO reported that Iran had the highest number of deaths caused by road accidents in the world in 2012. One factor in this alarming fatality rate is that the most popular and most affordable car in the country has no airbags, nor anti-locking brake systems, according to the BBC.

8) South Africa

Commuters in Cape Town take an average of 46.73 minutes to travel one way. Commuters in Pretoria and Johannesburg take less time to commute with 46.73 minutes and 39.87 minutes respectively.

You've never really experienced Manila until you've had to cram into a crowded bus on EDSA during rush hour because the MRT has conked out again. Traffic seems to be an inescapable fact of life in a fast-growing city like Manila.

It's not just the road construction projects around the metro that cause traffic. Road accidents that block the flow of traffic are also another reason for the traffic in Manila. Hopefully, Pinoy drivers and commuters will get to experience a smoother ride once the new roads are opened to the public. And to be safe, it's best to have your car covered with car insurance so you're financially protected in the event of an accident.

AUTHOR BIO:

Kyle Kam is an online marketing specialist for Moneymax, the Philippines' leading financial comparison website. Whenever he's not working, he's busy at home watching MMA videos the whole day. You may follow him on Twitter @undisputedkyle



NOTE: This post is from one of our contributors. Any views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views on www.pinoyadventurista.com.

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