JUST THIS Saturday, Feb. 15, a passenger bus fell on its side while navigating the road in Barangay Qui-anan, San Joaquin, Iloilo. At least 29 passengers sustained injuries. The bus driver claimed losing control of the bus while negotiating a steep portion of the highway. Was he driving slowly or was he driving like crazy?
Some drivers think they own the roads. Driving recklessly fast, they magnify the risk of vehicular accidents.
We must have a preventive policy to address drivers’ recklessness. This has been one of the leading causes of deaths among Filipinos.
There are several risk factors in road safety – overspeeding, drunk or drugged driving, driving or riding without fastening the seat belt, riding a motorcycle without a helmet, and the use of gadgets while driving. We have laws addressing these but the statistics on road accidents remain high.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the number of deaths from road crashes has stayed above 8,000 since year 2010. Globally, road traffic injuries are the ninth leading cause of death, responsible for over 1.25 million deaths each year, according to the United Nations.
Most road tragedies happen because drivers have become reckless and irresponsible in the conduct of their duties. They seem to disregard the statutory policy to bring their passengers safely as far as human care and foresight can provide, using utmost diligence and caution.
Article 365 of the penal code may be amended to bring to 20 years the maximum jail term of erring public transport drivers. The penalties provided under Article 365 may no longer work with the way public transports, especially buses, have lightly treated their obligation under existing laws.
From the existing penalty of arresto mayor to prision correcional in its medium period, or from one month to four years and two months, tighter penalties against offenders may be imposed on common carriers with longer imprisonment terms in case of injury and depending on the extent. In case of death, penalty may be made more severe.
To prevent road tragedies, our legislators should consider increasing the criminal liability of negligent drivers most especially of public transportation under the Revised Penal Code.
