EDITORIAL - Safety for travelers

Palm Sunday not only ushers in Holy Week but also marks the beginning of the exodus from urban centers to the provinces for Lenten reunions with families and vacations in tourist destinations.

Security is being beefed up at crowded bus depots and ports. Traffic and emergency medical assistance centers are being set up all over the country, with some teams even stocking up on candy for those in need of a sugar fix. Many gas stations are sprucing up toilets for travelers. Starting tomorrow, Kennon Road will be one way going up to the nation’s summer capital, Baguio City, with residents given an exemption to drive down during window hours.

The nation has had a lot of practice with crowd and traffic management during the annual Holy Week break. Still, there are things that can go wrong. With the heavy demand for transportation, ferries can be overloaded and passenger manifests incomplete, while cargo can be stowed improperly, risking fires or making the vessel unstable in strong waves. Inspection of ships must be additionally thorough in this peak travel season.

Land transportation is also risky, as operators scrimp on vehicle maintenance including regular brake checkups. Buses and jeepneys, often loaded all the way to the rooftop with passengers and cargo, keep losing their brakes while navigating steep, winding mountain roads, with tragic consequences. Drivers on long-haul trips also continue to take drugs to stay awake, again leading to deadly accidents.

Travelers themselves can do their part by increasing vigilance. Packages or baggage left unattended in crowded areas must be reported immediately to security personnel. This is also peak season for thieves out to steal not only cash but also mobile phones, computers and other gadgets. Travelers can be vigilant and protect each other from such thieves. Everyone can do his part to ensure safe travel during this Lenten break.