THE mayhem, chaos and danger that afflict our streets and the vehicles navigating them continues with horrific results.
The latest is the deaths in a Bureau of Jail Management official vehicle of five prisoners (persons deprived of liberty) along with injuries to two of their escorts when it crashed into a pole somewhere in Metro Manila while on their way back to jail from a court hearing. These victims were in a government vehicle that should have been well-maintained, following traffic rules and with a competent licensed driver. The only reality here seems to be that the driver did have a license. Yet he lost control of the vehicle and claims that his brakes did not work. One wonders if he was worthy of being given a driver’s license. Brakes will fail, the vehicle will go out of control in cases of speeding in our clogged streets with their many hazards. When these accidents occur, the fault is laid squarely on the vehicle which is ascribed with a diabolic intent to cause an accident. There is no discussion about how it was maintained, if it was tested and found roadworthy and who exactly was qualified to drive it.
This is just one incident with tragic results. What about buses that fall into ravines or fail to make the curves? Again, loss of control is attributed to failure of brakes. While the drivers are made to face homicide or reckless imprudence charges, it does not seem to minimize these occurrences in the future. It happens everywhere, even in the middle of the Balikatan exercises, when an errant large truck not connected with the exercises but inexplicably there, keeled over, again failing a curve or ignoring a ravine.
Meanwhile, the spontaneous burning of buses seems to be coming in pairs. At the Ortigas flyover last week, a tourist bus suddenly burst into flames. There must be an explanation but so far none heard. And let us thank goodness that it was empty of tourists. This was shocking enough because the fire came from seemingly nowhere. Well, there is another bus on EDSA near the Buendia intersection that seems to have been burned to a crisp. I saw it early this week, and it was still there yesterday. No explanation to the public or is this already a common occurrence that needs no notice?
Other common sights that are obviously unsafe and apparently ignored violations are the overloading of jeepneys. On Shaw Boulevard, this is rampant in the Pasig-Quiapo route. One or two passengers hanging on for dear life on the steps of a fully loaded jeep. This used to happen post-World War II when there was a formidable lack of public transport. It still happens in the hinterlands because it is ignored. But seeing it in an urbanized area that is years from the war brings on questions of what are the rules and why are they not enforced? And why haven’t we progressed?
Then there are the vehicles which crash into residences along the road because, again, they “lost their brakes.” Actually, they were speeding, lost control, and killed or harmed people and property. In truth, people living next to roads that need careful driving are at risk in this country because more seem to drive recklessly.
Then let us go to driving manners which seems to be at a minimum of courtesy in the city. Blowing horns unnecessarily is one such annoyance. Then there are the motorcycles with no mufflers to control their infernal noise, or is it deliberately that they drive that way? This is no respect for the public, and arrogance from the driver. Is there no rule to curb this or is there a rule that is ignored by authorities?
To add to the mayhem are the electric bikes with improvised bodies of light material that invade the traffic-laden streets, and like their motorcycle and electric bike operators, violate traffic rules by swerving in front of moving vehicles, counterflowing as if it was their right, and in general, hopping back and around just waiting for an accident that will be blamed on whoever hits them because the other vehicle will inevitably be larger.
Drivers and their ill-maintained vehicles, their ignorance of traffic rules and their bad manners are not the only ones causing road problems. The expressways charging hefty tolls do not have traffic controllers or enforcers or watchers that could prevent accidents before they happen by watching out for speeding, driving violations like overtaking in curves or from the right. This is because they do not spend money for the necessary personnel. So, you just pay the toll, get on the expressway at your own risk. Some expressways are not well-maintained. The Tarlac-Pangasinan Expressway is one of them. I pass it often and compared to the North Luzon Expressway and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, it is inferior, has rough patches, is uncomfortable and takes its toll on your vehicle.
Then there are the government officials who think they are entitled to break rules. Usually policemen bullying their fellow motorists, using the busway when they are not entitled to and if crossed go into road rage and pull out their guns. Ambulance drivers will soon be in this class. Their siren should not allow unsafe driving. Lately, one pedestrian was killed and accidents with other vehicles have happened because of rampaging ambulances.
There is no informed and competent vigilance on our roads almost as a matter of tradition. The same with the agencies that register vehicles for safety. Licenses can be given to the incompetent, violators are not apprehended, vehicles are not maintained properly, if at all. Yes, we have expressways and flyovers but without informed and competent vigilance they are like the rest of the roads, unsafe and waiting for accidents to happen.
And I have not mentioned that our roads have become deliberate murder sites with the motorcycle tandems of contract killers assaulting their victims with deadly guns. Only CCTV cameras can help in these cases as policemen are somehow absent.
It is time to put order and safety on our roads.