The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is proposing the inclusion of traffic education in the high school curriculum.
“Magiging number one killer ang road accidents sa Pilipinas. At hindi ito Manila trend lang, hindi ito Philippine trend lang, but it’s a worldwide trend kaya nga marami nang mga organizations ngayon talagang nag-aadvocate ng road safety,” Carlos said.(“Road accidents will be the number one killer in the Philippines. This will not only be a trend in Manila nor in the Philippines alone, but it’s a worldwide trend so there have been many organizations now thatĀ have advocated road safety,” Carlos said.)
“Inaassess namin sila (apprehended traffic violators) at tintanong namin, at wala silang kaalam-alam dito po tungkol sa traffic rules, traffic signs, traffic management, and even driving skills. Doon kami nababahala talaga. Kung ito nang mga drivers na ito na mayroon nang mga lisensya (driver’s license) ay wala pa ring kaalam-alam sa traffic education, eh paano pa po yung mga walang lisensya. Kaya we deem it a wise proposal,” the MMDA chairman said.
[“We asked and assessed them (apprehended traffic violators), and they don’t know anything, with regards to traffic rules, traffic signs, traffic management, and even driving skills. That is when we got really alarmed. If these drivers who already have driver’s license do not have any knowledge about traffic education, then what more those who have no licenses. So we deem it a wise proposal,” the MMDA chairman said.]
“Ang road safety does not only involve yung mga nagda-drive. It also involves commuters, passengers, and even pedestrians, dahil lahat po ng mga ito ay road users na nasa danger lagi ng road accidents. Sa traffic education, ang pinakamataas na hierarchy na laging pinagbibigyan ay pedestrians and that should be known by all road users including drivers; na mayroong priority lagi… ang pedestrians,” Carlos added.
[“Road safety does not only involve drivers. It also involves commuters, passengers, and even pedestrians, because all of them are road users who are in danger of road accidents. In traffic education, the highest hierarchy who should always be prioritized are the pedestrians and that should be known by all road users including drivers; that the pedestrians are always a priority,” Carlos added.]
A proper traffic education is currently only taught in driving schools, CarlosĀ observed.
“Hindi naman ho lahat ng kumukuha ng lisensya ay dumadaan sa mga driving schools,” Carlos emphasized.
[“Not everyone who gets a driver license enrolls in driving schools,” Carlos emphasized.]