The statistics are grim. On 1 November 2008, at least 5 people, including a priest, were killed in a head-on collision between a Fermina Express bus and a Toyota Revo along the North Luzon Expressway in Pampanga. A witness said that when the bus swerved out towards the opposite lane, the Revo was unfortunately stationary on the shoulder of that opposite lane. According to the GMA News report, some of the bodies were dismembered and the Revo was wrecked beyond recognition. Those are understatements, if you’ve seen the footage of the accident.
On 21 October 2008, a doctor died and three people were injured when two buses racing against each other hit a car, causing it to burst into flames. According to the GMANews report: “Police said Francisco Sarabia, a prominent doctor, was killed when a Joanna Jesh bus slammed into his Mercedes Benz sedan at the northbound portion of Edsa near the Santolan Station of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT).”
On 6 November 2008, 13 passengers were injured in the collision between an HM bus and a JRMS bus along EDSA. According to an Inquirer report, one bus was speeding on the southbound lane of Edsa near SM Megamall when it hit the rear end of the other bus.
On 4 November 2008, at least 15 people were hurt when a Nicholas Albert bus slammed into a concrete post in Cubao, also along EDSA (report from ABS-CBN). On 6 November 2008, one person died and 20 others were hurt when a Manila-bound Jethro Liner Bus fell careened into a rice field and hit a nipa hut in Kawit, Cavite (Inquirer report).
These are the more prominent accidents for October and first week of November, in the vicinity of Metro Manila. We are not talking about accidents caused by buses in other parts of the country or in other time periods. We are not even talking about motorcycle accidents.
Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez made a call for the LTO and DPWH to “immediately install signages indicating speed limits in Metro Manila.” With due respect, it won’t work. Firstly, it’s doubtful that it will be observed. A simple rule — the Yellow Lane — seems far from being implemented, at least as against the buses. I have seen private cars flagged down for alleged violation of the yellow lane rule. Yet, you see so many buses going in and out of the yellow lane. Simple rules. Not enforced. Perhaps we all remember Bayani Fernando‘s tarpaulin posters calling for discipline.
The more important reason is this — bus drivers are paid on a commission basis. They’re paid regular wages abroad. Put yourself in the shoes of a Filipino bus driver. You’re paid on a commission basis. You compete with so many buses flooding the street at any given time. So you race with each other to reach your target. What do we, the rest of the riding public, get? Try driving a car during rush hour at EDSA and stay at the outermost lane beside the Yellow Lane. You’ll see.
