Kamote Riders Common Traffic Violations

“Kamote Rider” has become popular in the Philippines along with the rise of social media and the increasing number of motorcycle riders on the road.

The term "kamote" itself is a Filipino word for sweet potato, and its use in this context is likely a metaphor for the frustrating and sometimes dangerous behavior of these riders. Simply put, mga nangangamote magdrive kasi hindi alam o hindi sumusunod sa traffic rules.

With the popularity of kamote riders, the traffic enforcement departments have become stricter especially in getting a driving license and in giving traffic-related tickets. Now, we don’t want to be tagged as “kamote riders”, right?

Here are common traffic violations of kamote riders that we must avoid:

Speeding

Exceeding the posted speed limit

Some riders say na iba talaga ang satisfaction ng adrenaline rush pag sobrang bilis ng takbo. O kaya yung reason naman ng iba ay nagmamadali sila at maluwag naman ang kalsada. Pero as a responsible rider, we should be aware of the speeding limit at a specific area.

Speed limit on national roads are as follows:

• Open Roads 80 Kph
• Through Street 40 Kph
• Crowded Street 20 Kph

Running Red Lights

Ignoring traffic signals and proceeding through intersections against the red light.

Normally, ginagawa to ng mga kamote riders kasi wala naman raw bantay. Yung iba naman ay malelate na raw sa work kaya nagbeat ng red light. As a trying-my-best-not-to-be-kamote rider, I make it a habit to allot extra time para sa traffic at byahe para di maging dahilan sa pagbeat sa red light.

Counterflow

Traveling in the opposite direction of traffic.

You will often see motorcycle riders doing this especially pag halos di na gumagalaw ang mga sasakyan pero open sa kabilang linya. Gantong-ganto pag holiday sa Tagaytay. And yes, I even see e-bike and trike drivers doing this. Kasi paliko naman na raw sila sa sunod na kanto. #Kamote nga naman. The best thing to do as a responsible rider is not to imitate them.

Overtaking on Double Solid Lines

Attempting to pass other vehicles in areas where it is prohibited.

This one is done by kamote riders due to several reasons such as lack of awareness, feeling of invulnerability to traffic accidents, poor judgement, or thrill-seeking behavior. It's important to emphasize that overtaking on double solid lines is a dangerous and illegal practice that can lead to serious accidents and fatalities. Awareness is crucial. Pag double solid lines, bawal mag-overtake. In addition, kapag single solid line, bawal mag-overtake pero pwede lumiko. Kapag dashed line lang pwede mag-overtake.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

Operating a motorcycle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Let’s face the reality, a huge percentage of road accidents involve alcohol influence, be it in the city or in the province. Ang mahirap talaga pag nakainom, hindi na clear ang pag-iisip at di rin alerto. I made it a mantra in life, na kapag magdadrive pauwi, hinding-hindi ako umiinom kahit sabihan ako ng “isang shot lang”. Inom na lang sa bahay. Safety first. Safety always!

Let's face it, kamote riders are posing danger on the road. But fear not! By educating ourselves and others about safe riding practices, we can outsmart these reckless riders and create a safer, more enjoyable riding experience for everyone. Ride safely!

What other topics do you think are important about motorcycle in general? Feel free to share your thoughts with us!