A systems-based approach to road safety is urgently needed following recent fatal road crashes along Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), according to legal advocacy group ImagineLaw.
ImagineLaw Executive Director Atty. Sophia San Luis emphasized that road safety is a shared responsibility between drivers and the institutions that design and manage road systems.
In the SCTEX bus crash, where the driver was suspected of falling asleep, two primary risks were identified: speeding and impaired driving.
ImagineLaw called for random and rotating speed enforcement along expressways to supplement existing static speed traps and deter dangerous driving behaviors.
San Luis also questioned whether the toll plaza area was adequately designed with visual cues or “road furniture” to prompt drivers to slow down.
The NAIA incident, which drew criticism toward the driver, also revealed poor infrastructure planning, particularly drop-off zones that directly face sidewalks, turning minor lapses into deadly events.
While driver accountability is necessary, ImagineLaw urged government authorities to also scrutinize road design, vehicle safety standards, and enforcement gaps.
The group noted that despite the existence of laws like the 2019 Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act and the 2018 joint circular on speed enforcement, implementation remains severely lacking.
San Luis disclosed that over 170 Land Transportation Office (LTO) enforcers were trained on speed enforcement in 2020, yet many regional offices still lack basic tools like speed guns.
Additionally, the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act remains unenforced, despite evidence from recent crashes showing that such interventions are effective when applied.
The Department of Transportation’s recent move to form a road safety task force also underscored the lack of a dedicated body prior to the incidents.
ImagineLaw concluded by urging the government to prioritize road safety through stronger enforcement, investment in infrastructure, and institutional reforms.
“We hope these incidents serve as a wake-up call,” San Luis stated, stressing that road safety must become a central government priority for all Filipinos.