Another six people died in another freak traffic accident that involves a public utility bus. The scene of that accident is in North Luzon Expressway in the heat of All Saint’s Day. Days before that incident, a doctor perished in a similar accident that involved two buses and a car, which burst into flames.

An editorial in the Philippine Daily Inquirer lamented that one of the reason why many public utility buses were involved in many accidents is in the “fact” that bus drivers are machoshits (a term that signifies males who subscribe in extreme machismo). They use their driving as a way to feed their macho ego. Partly, I agree with the editorial’s analysis. What’s with the many stickers that are plastered on their windshields that show girls in bikinis, half-naked babes, and “salawikains” with double-meanings? Many drivers are also avid readers of tabloids like Tiktik, Toro, and the disgusting Sagad. Even their moniker “hari ng kalsada” can be viewed as a stamp for their perceived macho image.

The editorial’s insight is not enough because the problem does not only lie with the drivers but also in the whole public transport system. The system of how the drivers earn their daily wages is one of the major reasons why they were forced to race one another, violate scores of traffic rules. Bus drivers earns through the percentage system wherein he will get a certain percentage of the gross earnings of the bus that he is driving. Jeepney drivers on the hand had to earn above a certain amount (also known as “boundary”) before they could earn anything. Aside from these, the driver had to shoulder the expenses on fuel, payment on their transport terminal and other things. They also had to contend with the crocodiles of the streets like corrupt MMDA officers, traffic policemen, and even greedy barangay tanods.

MMDA’s schemes of easing the traffic also do not help reduce the numbers of accidents on the streets of Metro Manila. Bayani Fernando was even lambasted because of his announcement that speed limit is not needed on EDSA. LTO is also spiked with corruptions that allow ineligible people to acquire driver’s licenses. LTFRB, on the other hand, turns a blind eye on bus companies that have numerous records of street accidents.

The problem with our public transport system is large and deadly. The sad thing is that our government is not serious in repairing it. It seems that one high officials should experience an accident on the streets so that they will wake up and the see how dangerous our streets are. As long as the system does not change, more people will perish.

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