AS REPORTED by this paper over the weekend, the rising tide of road accidents in Western Visayas paints a gory picture of what happens when driving becomes a right instead of a responsibility. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 6 is correct in pointing out that the real culprits behind the region’s road carnage are not faulty vehicles, but human error — specifically, a lack of education and discipline among drivers.
For far too long, we’ve tolerated a culture where anyone who can grip a steering wheel believes they’re qualified to drive. The truth is, too many of our roads are shared with drivers who lack the most basic understanding of traffic laws or simply choose to ignore them. Overloading, counterflowing, disrespecting pedestrian lanes, and tailgating have become routine, and these traffic violations are symptoms of a deeper, systemic failure in instilling moral and legal accountability on the road.
Driving is not merely a mechanical task; it is an ethical responsibility. Every driver who gets behind the wheel is entrusted with the lives of others — pedestrians, commuters, cyclists, and fellow motorists. The shocking reality, as underscored by LTO-6 Director Gaudioso Geduspan II, is that too many of these drivers are either uninformed, undisciplined, or both.
This is why LTO-6’s current efforts to toughen licensing requirements, enforce stricter compliance among driving schools, and expand driver education programs deserve full support. Suspending erring driving schools is just the beginning. There must be a clear, uncompromising standard: no certification without actual learning and demonstrated competence.
But accountability does not stop at passing exams. It must be reinforced every time a vehicle hits the road. That means continuous education, regular re-training through programs like the Driving Enhancement Program (DEP), and consistent enforcement of traffic rules. It also means instilling a culture where violating traffic laws is not treated as trivial, but as a breach of civic duty.
Western Visayas needs to move beyond punitive enforcement toward a model of proactive accountability — one that includes schools, communities, and media in shaping responsible road behavior. Ethical driving should be a point of pride, not an afterthought.
We do not need more drivers. We need better ones — disciplined, educated, and conscious of the immense responsibility that comes with holding a license. In rethinking driver accountability, we are not just protecting lives; we are rebuilding trust in our roads as shared public spaces where safety and civility come first.
