Wanted: Tsuper Stars

MANILA, Philippines - The Filipino driver is one of the worse, if not the worst, in the world. Everyone knows how horrible and dreadful the traffic situation has become in urban areas in the country especially in Metro Manila. This is due mainly to the most undisciplined, nasty, ignorant, arrogant and discourteous drivers who dominate our roads. We ask: Why are these road anarchists allowed to ply our roads and endanger the lives of people? In the international picture, the Philippines has the most notorious drivers giving our streets the distinction of being the most unsafe in the world. The daily traffic mess on EDSA proves this assertion. The driving habits of our motorists reflect the negative character of the Filipino.

Almost all countries in the civilized world conduct driving education among motorists — professional and non-professional — and in some, have compulsory theoretical and practical driving lessons in the classroom for high school students. This country does not seem to realize the need and wisdom of compulsory driving education for drivers. Because of drivers’ abuse on the road and ignorance of accepted international driving standards and correct driving habits, road accidents in the Philippines kill thousands every year. The onus of responsibility in this regard lies on the shoulder of the government and indifference can only be deplored by the public.

The revelation by the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group recently is alarming: 18,391 vehicular accidents from January to October this year alone. The HPG said driver error is the most common cause of accidents. Also recently the Automobile Association of the Philippines in cooperation with the University of the Philippines National Center for Transportation Studies held its Road Safety Conference focusing on the United Nations theme Gearing-Up for a Decade of Action Road Safety for the year 2011 to 2020. This interest in focusing attention to road safety by both the government and the private sector buttresses our advocacy for immediate government action in setting-up driving education for drivers, in order to minimize the alarming number of deaths due to vehicular accidents.

Our suggestion is a compulsory four-hour express seminar or crash course for drivers to educate them on the correct and internationally practiced universal traffic rules, the need to read and obey road signs, road courtesy, etc. Most of all this seminar shall inculcate the virtue of courtesy on the road, pride of being a law-abiding citizen, and the nice feeling of showing the whole world that drivers in this country have finally changed into educated and courteous “public utility chauffeurs.”

After the seminars, goodbye abusive, ignorant, dirty and reckless drivers. We shall welcome the Super Tsuper! Or better yet, the Tsuper Star!

(Eddie Ilarde is a former senator, Lifetime Achievement awardee for radio and television, and founding chair of Golden Eagles Society International, an organization for the welfare and dignity of older persons in the Philippines.)