This column has often gone on rants about the reckless ways in which jeepneys and tricycles operate throughout the city, along with how officials choose to look the other way and make other excuses for the poor traffic conditions. Jeepney and tricycle operators (operators because they know how to operate their vehicles but they do not know how to drive them properly) are the kings of the road, a moniker earned through the apparent acceptance of their irresponsible maneuvers along city streets. Beyond making sudden lane changes or stopping in the middle of the road to pick up and drop off passengers, they also, apparently, have the right to halt traffic in order to give their vehicle a tune-up.

There have also been past instances of rolling down the window to ask the jeepney operator why it was permissible for them to nearly cause an accident – an action that is often met with a blank stare. However, on Monday morning, was actually able to elicit a response from one of them.

Approaching the Bata flyover from Talisay City, was met with the regular congestion, except this time, there were private vehicles and jeepneys all trying to move in different directions – all within a span of two lanes. Getting closer to the intended route, saw a jeepney was stopped along the road and (as earlier mentioned), the operator was giving it a tune-up; along with a Bacolod City traffic enforcer moving traffic around it – essentially, assisting the jeepney operator.

Getting past the flyover onramp and moving down the side road, another jeepney was riding along the line and blocking both lanes in his pursuit to find passengers. Since he was blocking the passing lane at such a slow speed, honked the horn to suggest he move aside. Clearly, he did not like that. After moving into one lane, while passing, he pulled back his side curtain to give a look. Rolled down the window and asked if there was a problem. He expressed his consternation at being honked at. Informed him there are two lanes and he was in the middle. His irritated response of “Gani!” spoke volumes; in this case, it was his way of letting me know he was fully aware of what he was doing.

Initially, gave the benefit of the doubt, assumed they were just ignorant of how to properly operate on the roads. Private motorists often shows similar traits in the way they refuse to wait for a proper time to merge, regularly drive along the wrong side of the road and (somehow) assume they have the right of way, making left turns from the right lane and vice versa, among a myriad of other actions that are usually only exhibited by drunk drivers. However, based on the exchange with this jeepney operator, it’s clear, they are well-aware they are flouting the rules of the road and who can blame them? Nobody in any official capacity seems to care.

It’s the same Jekyll and Hyde phenomenon mentioned in past columns.

One the one hand, they cry about needing money to support their families, begging for sympathy from the public; then, on the road, their thoughtlessness is coated with the arrogance of a TV drama “contrabida.”

The blank stares previously received by other jeepney operators were likely from shock; they were surprised anybody would dare question their methods. After decades of “driving” as if there were nobody else on the road, and with local officials throughout the years allowing them to cause near misses on the streets they claim to care so much about, these maniacs behind the wheel are conceited. They do things like drive in the middle of the road and block two lanes traffic, then when confronted, respond with an equivalent to “Yeah, and?” Then, after expressing such self-importance, they expect sympathy from the public./WDJ