EDITORIAL – Why the jeepney strike was a dud

The most probable reason why the most recent strike by jeepney drivers failed to paralyze transport is because the cause for the strike lacked the validity to galvanize and unite even the transport sector itself. Many jeepney drivers refused to join. When a cause causes division, it is probably not a good and worthy cause and is best left alone.

And what were some jeepney drivers striking against? They were striking against increased penalties. And what were these increased penalties for? They were for continued and rampant traffic violations committed by jeepney drivers. So the penalties were not for breathing the air or for smelling the roses. The penalties were for the traffic violations that jeepney drivers continue to commit, in all likelihood because the penalties are too small.

The penalties are not imposed without a cause. They are not levied on anyone for nothing. Nobody gets penalized for simply sitting behind a wheel. In other words, you only get penalized if you commit a violation. The best way out of the problem, if it is a problem at all, is for jeepney drivers to be more careful when driving so that they will not commit violations.

The funny thing about the striking jeepney drivers is that they are also the ones with the most violations. Other drivers who carefully observe traffic rules are not worried about any penalties, big or small. That is why they did not lend any support to the strikers. They understand perfectly that higher penalties for traffic violations might be one way to discourage arrogant and careless driving.

Maybe, the next time the jeepney drivers strike, the government should crack down real hard on the strikers. Strikes are a violation of the franchise provisions of public transport providers. Society cannot be held hostage by a bunch of people who are very slow in abiding by the rules but are very quick to protest when they get penalized for breaking the rules.

Jeepney drivers weave in and out of traffic, jumping from one lane to another without so much as giving signals to indicate their intentions. They stop wherever they want, whenever they want. They beat red lights and then deliberately slow on green to await the red. They do not turn on their headlights at night and cut trips. They overload and do not honor discounts.

And then, when the government has had enough of this behavior and wants to instill order in the streets once and for all in the only way it knows how -- to increase the penalties -- these abusive and arrogant jeepney drivers go on strike. Thank God there are not so many of them as far greater numbers of jeepney drivers have refused to join and be lumped with them.