EDITOR’S DESK

As the holiday season approaches once again, no doubt many of you are already planning your out-of-town trips. For some, there will be a designated driver among their group. For others, they will look into renting a van with a driver for the trip. Either option is well and good, but I do hope that those renting a van and driver will be more considerate of their driver during the trip.

Over the past few years, I’ve been operating an AirBNB in Baguio City. Some of my most frequent customers are large groups that typically rent vans with drivers. They’re usually easy to deal but often forget one critical detail: Their driver’s accommodations.

The problem usually arises when I ask for a headcount. These groups usually range between six to 10 people. Sometimes they’re a family, sometimes it’s a large group of friends. Sometimes, one or two decide to join last minute and the additions are not relayed to me.

As an AirBNB operator, I need a final headcount well ahead of time because I endeavor to provide my guests with proper beddings, towels, and toiletries for each. Last minute guests and additions throw this careful planning off. And rooms designated for a maximum of seven to eight people, become very uncomfortable when an additional mattress or two has to be shoehorned into such a limited space. I try to avoid exceeding my strict maximum as much as possible. After all, it can affect the reviews of the place as well, even though packing it with people was not my idea, but the guest’s. As such, I typically apply an additional charge whenever this happens. I also make sure it’s not that cheap or this kind of inconsiderate behavior will continue on their next visit.

No surprise then that the one person always forgotten when it comes to the head count is the driver of the van. When confronted with this problem and the accompanying charge, these heartless groups usually have their driver sleep in the van instead. It’s all the more heartbreaking when it happens during Baguio’s colder seasons like December.

It’s pretty cruel treatment especially considering their lives all depend on that driver to get them from one point to another. Baguio is not an easy place to drive in, what with the winding roads, steep climbs and descents, and very challenging parking situation. The last thing you want is a driver that has not had a good night’s rest and is somewhat groggy on the road.

A headcount is a headcount, and it has to include all involved. Is he not a human being too, with feelings and needs? Forgetting to include the driver only shows how these groups see their mode of transport: as a simple commodity.

Granted, renting a van with a driver is not cheap; particularly when it’s for distant destinations like Baguio over several days. The price of fuel has been on a steady rise for several months now. A couple extra thousand for this driver’s accommodations may seem too much for these groups to bear. No doubt, out of courtesy, many of these drivers — keen to get a booking — will likely say they don’t mind sleeping in the van. Nonetheless, it’s an expense that should be considered by any group looking to rent transport. Your lives are in that driver’s hands, after all. Driving a vehicle — particularly a fully loaded one — through winding mountain roads and long stretches of high speed highways requires the driver to be well-rested, alert, and prepared for the very worst.

Indeed, short vacations like these can do wonders for any stressed individual. Yet the benefits are all for nothing if your group doesn’t arrive safely. So please, think about your driver.

(Iñigo S. Roces is the editor of Manila Bulletin’s Motoring section)