Road Safety Month begins with tragedy: A wake-up call

May is Road Safety Month in the Philippines—a time designated to raise awareness, promote responsible road behavior, and advocate for the prevention of road crashes. Coinciding with the Global Road Safety Week observed every third week of May, this month-long campaign aims to engage all sectors of society in making our roads safer. Yet, this year’s observance began under a shadow of grief.

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On May 1, a devastating multi-vehicle collision at an NLEX toll booth in Tarlac claimed 10 lives—including four children—and injured 37 persons. The crash was caused by a bus that plowed into a line of vehicles. The tragic incident once again brought to the fore the many factors that can lead to such accidents — poor vehicle maintenance, overworked personnel, reckless driving, and inadequate enforcement.

Unfortunately, such accidents are not isolated incidents. They represent a worsening trend. In December 2024 alone, two major collisions occurred. On Dec. 5, a truck with faulty brakes caused the collision of 16 motorcycles, five four-wheeled vehicles killing four and injuring 25 persons on the overpass at Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City. Just four days later, an SUV lost control along UN Avenue in Manila, crashing into 13 vehicles — including 10 motorcycles, 2 cars, and one tricycle — injuring six persons.