Professional

It is really beyond me how certain drivers are able to acquire licenses, professional even. Drivers who operate public transportation vehicles are required to have professional licenses. The word itself connotes skill and logic which, in my opinion, are severely lacking in drivers we have today. Eleven people were injured when a public bus rammed the rear of another public bus, while twenty-one people were injured when a public bus rammed the Skyway tollgate. Thank goodness nobody died in these accidents. What amused me was the driver's reason as to why he hit the other bus. He suddenly stopped, that's why he hit him. Maybe because he was too close, hello? And since he suddenly stopped as well, did anyone hit him behind? No. The other driver that hit the tollgate did admit that he was speeding. Why he was speeding while approaching a tollgate, God only knows.

These are two perfect examples of how flawed the LTO is in giving licenses to drivers. It is no secret that licensure examinations can be bought, with the right contacts and for the right price. Since it happens at the grassroots level, it is very hard to eradicate. Just imagine if a doctor, a lawyer or an engineer can just buy a license. That is a sure recipe for disaster.

And accidents are not limited to buses but to jeepneys and even motorcycle drivers as well. How many motorcycle accidents happen everyday? According to the MMDA, close to a hundred. The weaving, the speeding, the devil-may-care attitude coupled with arrogance make these drivers a danger to others aside from themselves. And yet, they have the licenses to continue plying the streets.

It is time for the LTO to enforce stricter measures to ensure that those applying for licenses are qualified and certified to drive, especially the so-called professionals. Written examinations should be given by a third-party provider to ensure that they truly pass. I'm certain many drivers do not even know what certain traffic signs mean. Actual driving tests, like those being given in other countries, must be performed. If they don't pass, then they have to take it and keep taking it until they do.

Public utility drivers and the companies they work for have an enormous responsibility to the safety of their passengers. They must be true professionals, and not just by what is indicated in their licenses. They must obey traffic rules, they must keep their passengers safe. If they fail, then their licenses and their franchises must suffer the consequences. They may not be doctors, lawyers nor engineers, but they still have professional responsibilities.

That's why the licenses are red.