Surely, the number of motorcycle owners and riders has grown exponentially. Parking lots of most establishments made provisions for cycle accommodation, taking up what was previously allocated for four-wheeled vehicles.
The low cost of fuel and maintenance when owning one of this mode of transport have caught the eye of majority of our people.
Asian countries have employed motorcycles as alternative vehicles for quick passage due to its size and speed which can be an advantage against heavy traffic. However, the lack of protective gears compared to cars and other similar vehicles makes it a dangerous means for movement.
Metro Manila traffic is not as safe compared to other metropolitan areas in the world, for our road rules are most of the time ignored and only a few are scrupulous to conform.
Frequently, the need for disseminating information regarding road safety for motorcyclists has been done with an aim to diminish the growing motorcycle-related accidents in the city. Still, most of our “riders” shrug-off their shoulders like it is nothing of great importance.
Appropriate clothing and proper driving practices are the most common violations that I see among motorcyclists. No head gears, speeding and swerving are among my observations.
The Manila Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA) has successfully lowered road accidents in Commonwealth Avenue after the speed limit implementation. They are planning to launch the motorcycle lane to further lessen accidents in this famed “killer highway.”
Despite the agency’s prompt implementation of rules, road safety can only be successful with the help of the drivers themselves. No matter how many traffic rules and regulations or ordinances we make, if our drivers are not properly educated and have less concern for human life, no rule can keep our road accidents from going down.
