REFERENCE AND RESEARCH BUREAU

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH SERVICE

“Driver’s Re-Education Program”

Introduction:
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.25 million people around the
world die every year due to road crashes. It was already considered by the latter to be a global
problem.1
Relatively, the Global Status Report on Road Safety 2018 of the WHO revealed that
the road traffic deaths continue to rise in the Philippines. It was estimated with 12, 690 deaths
in 2016.2
To address this concern, there are several initiatives that were undertaken by both
government and non-government entities. It involves programs, implementation and
legislation.
On the matter of programs, the Philippine Road Safety Plan 2017-2022 was initiated by
the Asian Development Bank. It envisions a zero road traffic death.3 There are also studies and
research works that were conducted, one of these is the Metro Manila Recording and Analysis
System (MMARAS).
In the aspect of legislation, aside from the Land Transportation and Traffic Code of
1964, there are several statutes that were enacted to enhance road safety and promote traffic
condition in the Philippines. One of these laws is the Republic Act No. 10916, otherwise known
as the “Road Speed Limiter Act of 2016”. It provides for mandatory installation of speed limiter
devices to all covered vehicles to improve public safety.4
As such, there are some proposals to address the concern on road safety and traffic
condition. These include public awareness, education, training of drivers and even regulation
by the State.

Re-Education of Drivers:
The Metro Manila Recording and Analysis System (MMARAS) revealed that human
error has been the top cause of road crashes in Metro Manila. Human error, as defined by
MMARAS, included driver’s suffering medical problems such as dizziness and asthma, drivers
who are tired or were asleep at the wheel; and drivers under the influence of alcohol. The same

1
Sy, Kimiko. In numbers: Road crash incidents in the Philippines, Rappler News, 2 November 2017,
https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/road-safety/166151-road-crashes-philippines-awareness-safety.
2
Dava, Bianca. Road traffic deaths continue to rise in the Philippines: WHO report, ABS-CBN News, 21
December 2018, https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/21/18/road-traffic-deaths-continue-to-rise-in-the-
philippines-who-report.
3
Ibid.
4
Republic Act No. 10916, otherwise known as the “Road Speed Limiter Act of 2016”, Section 4.
has recorded 109, 322 road crashes incidents in the National Capital Region in 2016, which is
equivalent to 14.33% increase from the 95, 615 incidents recorded in 2015.5
In relation to human error, it is responsible for 87% of fatal injuries, 85% of nonfatal
injuries, and 87% of damage to property in Metro Manila. Overall, 90% of road crash accidents
are caused by human error. This data is according to Richard Domingo, road safety unit officer
of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). He added that human error is also
influenced by driver’s behavior.6
From the foregoing data, it involves drivers who are either license or non-license
holders granted by the Land Transportation Office. In this regard, the Land Transportation
Office has provided a data specifically pertaining to holders of driver’s license.
The LTO recorded 710, 759 traffic violations out of more than 5 million licensed drivers
nationwide. It was inferred from the said figure that there is an increase of 22.98% from the
577,958 traffic violations recorded in 2015 and 19.95% increase from the 208, 602
apprehended vehicles in the same year.7
In relation to traffic violations, the top three (3) violations committed by drivers in
general are driving without carrying the certificate of registration or receipt, driving without a
license, and reckless driving.8
Therefore, despite the fact that these drivers are licensed and presumed to have qualified
as such, there is an increase propensity on the traffic violation in the country.
Consequently, Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante, Chief of the LTO, submitted that
he wants to end the informal driving training usually done by a licensed driver teaching a
student driver in learning how to operate a vehicle without regard to theoretical aspect of the
same. Moreover, he also wants a standard training program for driving schools. These are
premised on road courtesy, discipline and public safety.9
Moreover, Richard Domingo of MMDA likewise claimed that public awareness
through education, decreasing the number of vehicles by improving the mass transit system,
and most importantly, road discipline are necessary in curbing road accidents.10

Related House Bills of the 17 Congress:

House Bill No. 00859 was submitted, which is entitled “An Act Requiring Driver’s
Education for All Professional Truck Drivers and Appropriating funds Therefor”. It has the
purpose of road safety for motorists and commuting public as well as to protect and preserve

5
Sy, Kimiko. In numbers: Road crash incidents in the Philippines, Rappler News, 2 November 2017,
https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/road-safety/166151-road-crashes-philippines-awareness-safety.
6
Ibid.
7
Ibid.
8
Ibid.
9
Ilagan, Aris. LTO chief wants standardized training program for driving schools, TopGear Philippines, 23 May
2018, https://www.topgear.com.ph/news/motoring-news/lto-standardized-driving-training-a00188-
20180523.
10
Sy, Kimiko. Supra note 5.
properties from damage or destruction. The said Bill was authored by Hon. Linabelle Ruth R.
Villarica. It is pending with Committee on Transportation since 27 July 2016;11
House Bill No. 01320 which is entitled “An Act Requiring Mandatory Seminar on
Traffic Rules and Regulations for all the Public Utility Vehicle Drivers” was proposed by Hon.
Mariano Michael M. Velarde Jr. Its purpose is to enable drivers to have a firm grasps and
working understanding of the country’s traffic rules and regulations. The said Bill is pending
with Committee on Transportation since 01 August 2016;12 and
House Bill No. 06223 which is entitled “An Act Integrating Basic Road Safety and
Comprehensive Driver’s Education in the Curriculum of the Enhanced Basic Education (K to
12) Program” has for its purpose to prepare young citizens, both availing of license or not, to
be better knowledgeable on road sharing rules and basic road safety. It was authored by Hon.
Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte Jr. It is pending with the Committee on Basic Education 23
August 2017.13

MCB/MVU

07.18.2019

11
H. No. 00859, 17th Cong., (2016).
12
H. No. 01320, 17th Cong., (2016).
13
H. No. 06223, 17th Cong., (2017).