Still reeling from the tragic bus accident in Bontoc that claimed more than 10 lives in February, another bus figured in a road mishap last Sunday.
A shuttle-bus fell off the elevated expressway’s southbound lane around 5:00 in the morning. Skyway O&M Corporation’s traffic management security chief Louie Maralit claimed that an SUV collided with the bus, causing the crash.
While there were no deaths reported, the bus driver and a passenger on the SUV were injured and taken to hospital.
It may seem insignificant compared to the Bontoc tragedy, but it still raises questions on when the spate of bus accidents — especially fatal ones — will end. The Skyway is no stranger to this, as just last December, a bus also fell from it, killing 19 individuals.
Officials said lack of engineering, enforcement and education are the main reasons behind the increasing number of deadly road accidents. In most cases, police blamed human error or mechanical defects as the reason behind the crashes. Complaints about reckless bus drivers weaving in and out of the monstrous traffic at top speed is common in the country where the drivers work on a commission basis.
Most of the bus drivers involved in the deadly accidents would say, “Di po namin kagustuhan,” and while this plea may not satisfy the relatives of those who died, there’s a ring of truth in their statement. The bus drivers are mandated to do one thing and one thing only: get as many passengers to ride on their buses so they can earn more. The hell with road safety and traffic rules.
Several proposals — and operative word, proposals — have been submitted to the government. However, in hindsight, perhaps the reason why this keep continuing is the lack of accountability among government regulatory bodies and bus companies.
If you think about it, how many owners — and not just bus drivers — have been put in jail because of major and fatal road accidents? What’s even scarier is — bus companies go scot-free as they can easily register for a new franchise with the same drivers and bus units.
This has been asked after every accident — how many more lives have to be lost before the government stops giving out these bus operators a license to operate, therefore, license to kill?
In your opinion, Kapuso, what should be done to stop these tragedy plying in our streets disguised as buses? (photo from GMA News TV)