By Monico D. Mekaniko
QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA - If you are to start teaching people proper road discipline, it should start as early as the basic education level, according to lawmakers.
Brothers Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd district Cagayan de Oro City) and Rep. Maximo Rodriguez (Abante Mindanao party list) said that integrating road and traffic safety guidelines in elementary and high school should instill discipline and obedience to traffic laws.
Citing reports, the elder Rodriguez said among the causes of road accidents is lack of road discipline both by drivers and pedestrians. He also stressed that government attempts to reduce accidents have been somewhat unsuccessful.
Indeed, statistics from the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed that as of 2009 there were 19,841 reported traffic accidents. Among the reasons were bad overtaking, speeding, and bad turns.
The lawmakers filed House Bill 6098, known as the “Road Courtesy, Discipline, and Traffic Safety Education Act,” which would include lessons in basic road safety guidelines. Among these are traffic signs for motorists and pedestrians, laws about traffic, rights and obligations of drivers, penalties, among others.
On the other hand, the Philippines is already set to implement the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan 2011-2020, which already includes provisions to provide lessons on road safety for elementary, high school, and college students.
Till next time, this is Monico D. Mekaniko, Va-va-vroom!
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