By Toots Jimenez, Jr.
We were surprised as we heard of several road accidents that have occurred in Bacolod City in the recent and past months. Many culprit drivers claim that the incident was caused by faulty brakes and so on.
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That is always the deepest alibi that a driver would say, even if it is not true. Of course, how can your brake system work when your speed is over the tolerable limits in safe driving? Driving at 80 kilometers per hour (kph) is the fastest that you must accelerate to ensure that the brake system of a good vehicle makes you do the best safely. If your vehicle is not one with an ABS brake system, the safest speed is 60 kph. We are talking about highway driving speed and not in the busy streets.
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In Bacolod City, there were reports of road accidents of a turtle-turned sports utility vehicle, uncontrolled driving hitting another vehicle, and a jeepney hitting a commercial vehicle that swept on its side. Wow, I told myself and got amused that some incidents occurred in the busy commercial roads. That would mean that these are irresponsible drivers who can be declared overspeeding on the busy roads.
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Mind you, but a driver must always make it a habit to stop, no matter if the road seems clear, at all intersections. There is always the danger of some idiotic drivers from other roads who may seem ignorant about defensive driving. Many lives and properties have been lost due to irresponsible driving.
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It could even be better that the Land Transportation Office (LTO) declares a road safety rule that drivers who are found to be the cause of road accidents that result in loss of lives due to overspeeding or under the influence of liquor should have their driver’s licenses revoked for one or two years depending on the gravity of the accident. In this way, the consciousness of defensive driving will be in their minds.
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Many believe that LTO will take a stiffer license revocation action if both parties have amicably settled the accident with the exchange of monetary deals.
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Another glaring scenario is road mishaps involving motorcycles and tricycles, especially along national highways. Many motorcycles on the road do not have parking lights, brake lights and reflective devices. In most cases observed by many four-wheel vehicle drivers, motor riders are highly irresponsible for crossing the paths of bigger vehicles unnoticed, surprising drivers and leading to injuries. The truth is the problem lies in the state of mind of these motor riders who drive the smaller motorcycles who never understand defensive driving. There are so many of them. Even very young riders blast their speed along the highway while authorities are already snoring in their beds at night. This is very sad in our society.
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The enforcement could not be depended on the LTO as they have limited manpower counts. Deputizing concerned citizens who are responsible individuals is the added solution, since these personalities are volunteers and are passionate about safety on the roads with saving lives and properties in their mind. Soon let us build a safer nation on the road./WDJ