Showing off

What is the benefit of showing off? Honestly, nothing. It’s simply a way of showing off one’s property or to gain attention. If that is all, then fine. The problem is when someone gets hurt. This is what happened on Taft Avenue last Wednesday. A motorcycle was speeding on Taft Ave. which has many intersections, in addition to the number of public and private vehicles using the road. A dashcam captured how fast the motorcycle was going. And in just a few seconds, the not-so-unexpected occurred. The person who captured the video was spot on: “Sobrang kayabangan kasi.”

The motorcycle hit two women crossing Taft Avenue. We should mention that the speeding motorcycle was a big bike. It was not a scooter. Being big and heavy along with the speed it was going, the two women did not stand a chance. One died while the other was injured. Everyone, including the rider, was taken to the Philippine General Hospital. The motorcycle caught fire after crashing.

Since the accident video went viral, some opined that the motorcycle had the right of way because the light was green when it passed the place of the accident. But Joe Ferreria, president of the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), refuted this. According to him, a pedestrian crossing the street always has the right of way. Once they step on the road, they have the right of way. A motorist cannot argue that he has the right of way because the light is green.

The motorcycle rider is now facing a case of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and physical injuries. Surely, he will have to pay compensation for the victims and maybe even face jail time. All because he thought he could maniacally speed on a road considered an urbanized road where the prescribed speed limit is 20 kilometers per hour. That speed limit may not be followed by many vehicles, but they were not traveling as fast as the motorcycle.

One area that officials should also monitor is the Marilaque Highway. There are also many motorcycle riders showing off. Those who drive fast, those who lie down or do tricks while driving a scooter, those who do wheelies, and most of all those who bank their motorcycles as if racing on a track. Marilaque is not a racetrack. Many accidents have occurred here, also because of showing off. Sometimes, other vehicles are involved in the accidents caused by these riders.

You should think twice before showing off. Make sure that no one gets hurt, whether it is other people or yourself. It is not worth it if someone gets hurt, or worse, dies.