Time for the LTO to really screen drivers!

Another accident was caught by CCTV cameras of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Pasay City. A passenger jeepney is seen turning right into a street. Its speed is confirmed by the large tilt to the left that the jeepney displays. It then hits a male pedestrian, catapulting him meters into the air! It then continues on to hit two female pedestrians, finally stopping when it hits another passenger jeepney! The two women are pinned beneath the jeepney. Bystanders rush to the scene to help the victims, and to keep the driver of the killer jeepney, who was trying to escape, at bay. Unfortunately, one of the women was declared dead on arrival, while the other two sustained severe injuries. And as if the accidents were not enough misfortune for the two women, two women bystanders take their bags that were lying on the street! All this caught by the CCTV.

Of course, it’s the fault of the vehicle, which had faulty brakes. That’s according to the driver. How this guy was even given a driver’s license, a professional one at that, is beyond logic! Why he would even turn at that speed into a known busy street that he has probably passed through a million times is just plain stupid! See, this is my biggest issue with the Land Transportation Office. Drivers like these, who obviously have no formal or even basic training in driving, let alone driving a public transportation vehicle, are able to get licenses. I’m sure he does not even know the most basic rules of the road, because he has no common sense. And yet he has a professional license to drive! All he needs to do is turn the ignition key and steering wheel. Does he even know how to maintain his vehicle? Does he check anything on it before he plies his route? How I wish something just broke on that vehicle on that fateful day. Three people would still be getting on with their lives!

As for the two women who picked up the strewn bags of the victims? If they stole them, I really hope the CCTV identifies these two so they can be put away for good! How could they even think of stealing these bags that belong to victims of an accident that just happened! You see, these are the times I wished we had really harsh laws regarding crimes like these. And I believe the time has come for more severe punishment for motorists who hit pedestrians, especially if they try to run away! Probably the driver of some very influential local government official, or some rich guy who believes he can pay his way out of prison!

It is also time for the LTO and the LTFRB to really screen would-be public utility vehicle drivers if they are truly qualified. I mean really qualified both in skill and in mindset. They must have an education level that makes them able to read traffic signs in both English and Pilipino! They should know the rules of the road by heart. Lives are at stake, as shown by the accident caught by the OWWA CCTV. It’s time for the LTO to put a stop to those who just pay their way to get licenses. That’s just a disaster waiting to happen. Which in this case, it did.