Convoy Conundrum

Two weeks ago, at about half past two, I was driving my wife and kids home from our Sunday ritual, which means lunch and arcade gaming at whatever mall the kids had decided to go to that weekend. We were less than five minutes away from our driveway in Marikina City. The kids were looking forward to their Sunday ice cream sundaes, the missus to some Sunday showbiz cheese, and I to a luxurious Sunday siesta. After all, the ebi tempura was sitting quite well in the gut and a satisfied buzz was starting to stir in my head. Some cold San Miguel Pale later in the evening would perfectly cap the day, I thought.

But the idyllic Sunday mood was spoiled by a too-close-for-comfort call. From the driver’s seat, I saw the metallic pale blue late 80s/early 90s Mitsubishi Pajero I was tailing suddenly swerve to the right, missing by inches a vehicle that had forged its way through oncoming traffic. It was then I realized it was not just a vehicle, but a group of vehicles that crossed the opposite lane and coming toward us. And quite fast too. To cut the story short, a quick, reflexive maneuver similar to the Pajero’s saved us from harm, and each respective family member’s plan for the rest of the day was a go.

All’s well that ends well? That should not be the case.

The group of vehicles that had placed my family and all the other hapless motorists and pedestrians that afternoon were travelling in a pack notoriously referred to locally as a "convoy". That particular convoy were made up of two early 90s lead cars, two similar sedans served as chase cars (one of which was a red late 80s/early 90s "16-valve" Toyota Corolla) and The Boss’ vehicle; a dark color, previous-generation Nissan Patrol.

Our brush with the convoy happened at A. Bonifacio Avenue, which is Marikina’s main thoroughfare, just a kilometer away from the tacky Riverbanks Mall. In that four-lane avenue at that hour, 60 kph would have been fast. The convoy, in my estimate, was travelling at almost twice that speed. The avenue has a double solid yellow line painted in the middle, thereby classifying it as a No Overtaking zone. The convoy — "wang wang" sirens, flashing lights and all — was forcing its way through oncoming traffic past a hospital zone and a traffic light reserved for pedestrian crossings. Several of the apparent "security" men in the convoy had their apparently brainless heads sticking out the cars’ windows, hands flailing vigorously ordering everybody in their path to get out of the way. All these at more than 100 kph!

Mind you, I know speed. Barely a few months ago, I was strapped to a 400-horsepower Porsche 911 Carrera Cup race car, riding shotgun with a professional race/test driver from tiremaker Michelin. He drove me around the Sepang Formula One Circuit in Malaysia, a track in which one would have to be extremely unlucky or extremely stupid to hurt oneself in. Especially when you’re the only car on the track. The Porsche is a proper race car with all the necessary safety equipment race cars these days are bound by stringent rules to have.

The event organizers would not let any other cars out on the racetrack at the same time we were there. No human being is allowed to step to within an inch of the racetrack while we were lapping. Needless to say, there isn’t a chance a mother with a child would be crossing that track in this lifetime. Mister race/test driver was garbed in a race suit and I in a full-face helmet, and both of us were strapped tightly to our race seats. We would be driving fast, and therefore safety is of the highest priority. Our safety inside the car, and the safety of everybody else around. That is how much speed should be respected.

But apparently, the people in convoys think "wang wangs", flashing lights and flailing arms allow them to be exempted not only from road laws but from the laws of physics as well. I’d be callous and say it would be great if they kill only themselves, but to place countless, hapless people in harm’s way is definitely not a privilege that should be accorded to anyone.

It’s safe to assume The Boss in the Nissan Patrol had attained a certain degree of success in life, being able to travel with security escorts. And I won’t kid myself also. The President and other high-ranking officials deserve a motorist’s courtesy in traffic. Yet other lesser-ranking officials from government, military or a pamangkin of the second cousin of the mayor also want, nay, demand the same courtesy. In the real world, there are those that are really more powerful than others. An "8"-numbered car or a black, late-model Land Cruiser Prado with "Stay On Yellow Lane" stickers in the rear windshield can simply bully their way through traffic, unmindful of the rights and the safety of others.

Sorry, we do not mean to inconvinience you by our existence and presence on our country’s roads.

But questions remain. Are convoys not bound by road and traffic laws? Which officials are truly eligible to travel with escorts? Should we give way to convoys? I’m sure you, dear readers, have your views. Let’s hear them.