As I was on my way to work this morning, I got a really close call with an almost-too-often-happening-in-the-philippines-road-accident involving a dog.
It was some minutes before 6AM (my work starts are that time). I was driving my motorcycle on an average speed of 50 km/h and saw this dog jogging along the highway. It was at the pedestrian's side but I was a little cautious. It was just jogging along but when I got nearer, it suddenly tried to cross the street!
I honked the horn furiously, and the dog scampered and ran with its tail between its legs away from the would-be accident scene.
Sad to say that many people are not as lucky as I am. It is a fact that many Filipino families own dogs that are left to their own antics and roam the streets carelessly. They must think they own the world as they cross the street without our usual childhood warning of looking to the left and right. How many people have died in motor vehicle accidents involving stray dogs? Well, much more than accident involving children in the same scenario, I bet? And hospital and police statistics will tell you that there were a lot!
It was indeed a close call. Happy am I that it ended only as a close call and not as a me-in-bandage situation, or worse.
How I wish that the country would enforce a strict law to put and end to this situation with stray dogs. Then we can all drive in peace -- and just worry about the children.
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