Finish what you start

A solution is only useful when applied and treatments don’t heal us completely unless we complete the treatment process. This week the MMDA and agencies under the DOTr have come up with ideas or plans to address problem areas in motoring. The MMDA is now considering “regulating” the use of tinted film on vehicles while the LTO and LTFRB are working on sending PUV drivers to re-education camp for drivers or what they term Drivers Academy.

These are good ideas but may just be ideas that the MMDA and DOTr agencies habitually float on social media to test public reaction to ideas they just thought of, but have not really researched and validated scientifically. Instead of science they now depend on social response. In the end, policies are developed or deferred based on populist views and not on logic or political will. So if brats start screaming and throwing tantrums on social media, the best plans and programs will die prematurely.

Many people will undoubtedly be opposed to the removal of heavily tinted or dark films from their front and rear windshields. Already the justifications are pouring in. “It’s a safety precaution so other people won’t see that my wife/daughter is driving the vehicle alone,” “I’m a Chinese businessman and I am a high risk candidate for kidnapping,” “I’m an elected official with political enemies,” “I’m a member of media who has too many enemies.” “Dark tinted windows prevent robbers and thieves from seeing what’s inside my vehicle” and last but not the least, the tint greatly reduces the heat build up in the car and makes it cooler.

Few will give serious thought to actual cases of people being kidnapped, robbed, and raped in tinted vehicles. I remember the young guy who went to sell his SUV and all the mother saw was the tinted vehicle leaving the meet up place but no one could see who was driving or inside the vehicle due to the heavy tint. Our lady caretaker and our accountant- friend were separately snatched and grabbed into tinted vans. Our caretaker was dropped off after someone cleaned out her ATM account of hard earned savings of P30,000. Our accountant-friend who was and still is connected with ABS-CBN was grabbed in front of the BIR main office and was only found in a daze in Baguio City almost a week later. The criminals could not get money out of her ATM and perhaps when it turned out that ABS CBN was looking for her, the criminals must have panicked, kept her alive and eventually released her. Crimes involving heavily tinted cars and vans for robbery, kidnapping, white slavery etc ARE REAL. Just because it has not happened to you does not mean it does not.

Some of my friends who have been victimized by burglars, had heavily tinted vehicles. What we never consider, because it’s frightening, is that thieves do study us like prey. Bukas kotse guys are pros who may have been casing the area where you eat, work, and park. From there they make a list. One pattern I noticed is that they hit new “in” places where people eat, meet or work  or gimmick. Some even hit church parking lots outside Metro Manila. If pick pockets steal in church, you know that no one is safe, tinted or not.

My lawyer-friend Atty. Consunji has suggested that the MMDA restriction on tinted windows should only apply to new registration. Unless the Cory Administration actually deleted all PDs or Presidential Decrees from the first two months of Martial law, then there is a strong possibility of finding a presidential decree that bans the use or installation of tinted films on cars, vans, trucks etc. That PD was issued in 1972 a few months after the declaration of Martial Law. Unless I got the wrong data, vehicles are suppose to have “see-through windshields” so drivers behind them can see what's up ahead such as traffic, accidents etc. especially on expressways in high speed. That also happens to be a global standard.

Aside from driving considerations and visibility against criminal acts, it may also be a good idea for all of us to reflect on how being inside a fully tinted window affects our behavior, mind-set or attitudes. Because no one sees us we tend to “express” ourselves more openly if not verbally or violently simply because “hindi naman kita” or can’t be seen by others. It has the same effect of texting or posting on Facebook. We become impersonal if not impolite and sometimes reckless because there is no immediate accountability or consequence. The MMDA is concerned about driving and texting, I have seen so many vehicles watching Telenovelas, movies or playing games inside their vehicles during their after office rush hour drive.

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As for the Driving Academy; Yes I support it but not a one day version.  Why does government always try to come up with “Instant” One-day only solutions and justify it with concerns for poverty, cost or loss of income? Nations all over the world require extensive repetitive driver training that are costly to participants because the drivers are qualifying for “Professional status” to make money. If it is not expensive it has no value  and requires no effort. Stop cheapening or diluting the process because it is this laziness and populist attitude that has resulted in illiterate and incompetent drivers getting professional licenses, not paying income taxes, creating havoc on the road and killing innocent people. Implement the penalty on points system applied abroad where each violation has points and the ultimate penalty is suspension or ban from driving.

As a friend said: this proposal will surely lead to great debates and heated arguments. What’s important is that we really read and listen to all the views in order to learn and be informed. Ultimately we must all make little sacrifices for the greater good. God Bless us all.

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