Christmas Carmaggedon: Surviving Metro Manila Traffic during the Holiday Season

During the holiday season, the traffic in Metro Manila becomes incredibly heavy. Factors, such as 13th month pay, store discounts (that will make your jaw drop), and extended mall hours (that will make you drop from exhaustion), will contribute to vehicular deadlocks in EDSA and the other major thoroughfares in the country’s capital. Whether you rent a car in Manila or drive one of your own, chances are you will encounter heavy traffic to and from your destination in the metro.

While you won’t be able to do anything about easing the “carmaggedon” anytime soon, you can take steps to cope with this situation. Here are a few tricks you can note down to stay sane in the metro traffic this yuletide season:

Plan Your Route before Leaving

If you’re looking to spend a little less time stuck in traffic, you’ll need to plan your routes before heading out on the road. A miscalculation can spell the difference between a quick shopping trip to your favorite mall and spending several hours on your vehicle.

With navigation apps like Waze and Google Maps, you can stay ahead of the curve and devise a custom route that will get you from Point A to Point B quickly. Additionally, monitoring social media accounts, such as MMDA’s Twitter, can help you avoid dreaded traffic hotspots.

Keep a Supply of Non-Perishable Food Items on Your Vehicle

Driving and getting stuck in traffic for hours can make any motorist go “hangry” (hungry and angry). Rather than blow your top over the whole traffic situation, stay cool by stuffing your bag or vehicle compartment nonperishable food and drinks. Water, candy, crackers, and cookies should do the trick. If you’re in the mood for something healthier, pack nutritious food like nuts, protein bars, and trail mixes.

Come up with a Traffic Playlist

Let music keep you awake, help you stay cool, and maintain your energy levels for the duration of your trip. Whether you’re using a memory card filled with your favorite hits or a music streaming app to uplift your Christmas spirit, make sure you’ve got everything all set before you leave for the road.

Don’t have a playlist with you? Simply tune in to your favorite FM radio station and you’re good to go. Alternatively, you can switch to AM for your daily dose of radio soaps and local news. Some AM radio stations, in fact, provide comprehensive traffic reports that mention alternative routes you can take while getting to your destination.

Stretch Your Legs as Much as Possible

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) can occur if you’ve been sitting in your vehicle for far too long. When the blood in your legs starts clotting, it could cause vascular complications, which could endanger your health. Whenever possible, find a good place to pull over and stretch your legs. This helps improve the flow of blood in your body.

Before heading over to your next destination in Metro Manila, remember to plan your routes properly, stock up on food and drinks, create a traffic playlist, and stretch your legs whenever you can. If you’re going out on a shopping trip, drive during off-peak hours to avoid the holiday rush and get your stuff done as quickly as possible.