EDITORIAL

by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM

Road Safety Deserves Everyone’s Attention

Men and women are mobile and they love to travel as soon as they start to walk. Early contraption on the road was the bicycle first designed by painter, sculpture and craftsman Leonardo da Vinci. Early model was a simple large wheel where a biker sits on top wheeling the pedals. Later improvement was a large wheel with a miniature wheel at the back. Heavy metal parts, poor maneurability and slow mobility keep much of the population from adopting them.

With the discovery of high grade mineral ones and refinement into alloys bike was transformed into a modern machine that won the praise and admiration of folks particularly sports enthusiasts. It has generated so much interest that it was used to transport people from residences to work places or public markets. The only requirement was to attach a sidecar good for two paying passengers. Presto, it was business at practically no cost to the driver except brawn and sweat.

In Aklan, the heyday of trisikad was during the early 1970’s. However, a more agile and versatile vehicle came out with a motorized one. This is the tricycle that forms part of modern public transport system in the country today.

A tricycle normally is a 6 sitter model: 2 in the front seat and 4 at the back. Any addition of extra load whether on the front of 2 passengers or at the back of the driver is considered illegal but accepted by authorities since there is shortage of transport in rural areas. The low cost ride fits well in depressed communities. Nevertheless, this practice is tantamount to overloading. Considering the rough condition of roads, skill of driver and scant protection of vehicle safety, more riding passengers are exposed to traffic accidents.

Data from the Aklan PNP show that in 2011 there were 135 cases of traffic/vehicular accidents that are increasing annually though preventable. Of this total, 18 were fatal, 118 severe/minor injuries and 60 damages to property.

Road safety management and capacity building program are key components of the Provincial Management Facility under the Memo of agreement signed between the Dept. of Interior and Local Government and Australian Aid. Governor Carlito S. Marquez has created a Technical Working Group composed of representatives from PEO, DPWH, DOTC, LTO,HPG, PNP, DILG, PPDO, DENR, DOH, DepEd, and NGO (Aklan Press Club, Inc.). Marquez came up with a Provincial Road Network Development Strategy. From this output, 5 year Medium Term Plan is crafted for submission, reference, consideration and approval of the Sanggunian Panlalawigan of Aklan.

Despite its usefulness and versatility, tricycle as a public conveyance is proven to be: a) risky, b) economically not feasible, and c) adds environmental pollution.

First, tricycles have little protection from a vehicular impact against a 4 wheeled vehicle in a national highway. Confrontation is likened to David and Goliath. Its brake system is limited to the rear and any abrupt application of force on the brake pedal during emergencies like avoiding rear impact or obstacle can make the sidecar swerve either to the left or right. Drivers conveniently disable front brakes to prevent stuck ups.  

Second, tricycle unit is costly investment of P100,000. It cost more in its operation and maintenance and very limited load capacity. It cramps 6 passengers with regulated fare of P7.50 each or P45.00 per trip. How many trips could be done per day with full passenger capacity? Probably this occurs only during rush hours. Most of the time tricycles are making the rounds of Kalibo on only 1 or 2 passengers or none at all. Yet, more or less one expends the same maintenance cost. 

At the end of working day after deducting operating expenses – gasoline, boundary fee and repair. driver gets P200.00. This is P40.00 less for a family of 5 members to be above poverty threshold as defined by National Statistics Coordination Board.

With about 3,000 tricycle units registered and operating in Kalibo, it’s no wonder return on investment for engaging in tricycle business is practically not viable. 

Third, tricycles are basically slow moving and competition in a congested highway poses a major irritant. National road from Caticlan to Aklan-Capiz boundary in Altavas is also Republic Nautical Highway where 10 wheeler trucks and buses traverse their way from Iloilo to Manila and vice versa. 

Bottlenecks arise in Poblacion, Kalibo where tricycles use the same route of RORO buses and trucks. This means slow down, loss of travel time, more fuel cost and smog. Data from US Department of Energy reveal that a liter of gasoline spews 2.5 liters of pollutants mainly carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and others into the atmosphere which in turn inhaled by pedestrians in minute quantities. It also adds to temperature and noise.

Barring aside the health concern, tricycle drivers as road users do not possess essential knowledge about road safety. Many are unaware of road signages, road markers, road ethics and simple vehicular maintenance checkup before using their unit. Preventive maintenance is done on brakes, engine oil, auto lube lubrication, signal and tail light, horn, battery solution level and tire pressure.

Our national highway has effective passage width of 10 meters or 2 lanes where the standard width is 15 meters. Increasing volume of huge vehicles every year exerts tremendous challenge on authorities to ensure safety of travelers and vulnerable groups like children, senior citizens, and disabled persons. It takes local executive initiative to implement a national directive of LTO where tricycles are confined to secondary or feeder roads.

Promoting road safety based on engineering, education and enforcement in Aklan is a long road toward the goal of reducing the present data of 135 vehicular accidents per year over the next 5 years. You may not know it but the life you save can be your own. /MP