Have you ever wondered why the roads in Manila and its neighbouring cities continue to be infested with reckless drivers? Aside from the stress that the heavy traffic brings, the tension arises when drivers fail to follow simple road rules and regulations. Countless incidents of road rage have ended into a bloody and deadly argument because of one reason: reckless driving. Why are these drivers granted license when they cannot even follow rules? Simple rules. Ah, it might have something to do with the way a written examination is administered.
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) plays a crucial role in ensuring that the drivers applying for a license are fit and capable of driving people to safety. Whether it is a private or public utility vehicle, it is the driver’s responsibility to provide a safe driving experience to passengers. Road accidents are not an isolated case. It has continued to plague individuals who venture into the concrete jungle of Metro Manila.
By merely looking into the process involved in applying for a driver’s license, you can easily spot where the problem lies. We know for a fact that before you can obtain a driver’s license, you need to pass the written examination, but why would you do that when you can skip the process by paying off the LTO officer in exchange for a passing mark? Upon entering LTO’s premise, you can sure sense the presence of a fixer. Now, if you do not have the luxury of time, a fixer can make your life less miserable. You hand the money, the fixer hands the answer key. Not a wise move though.
While this may not happen on a daily basis, it is a rather a familiar scene in LTO that one cannot afford to turn a blind eye on as road safety is at stake. How can LTO grant a driver’s license to a person who cannot recognize basic road signs and markings? If you plan to secure a driver’s license and take the written examination, these crooks will render your efforts useless because there are undeserving applicants who manage to get their license effortlessly.
So long as this issue is not properly addressed, the driver-licensing examination will continue to be marred by money-making schemes and its credibility will remain questionable. LTO should know that it is not just a simple cheating because as a government agency, they are held responsible for ensuring that the drivers are deserving of securing a license. Ignorance of the law excuses no one, especially if it is feigned ignorance. How can an individual ensure road safety if being on the road feels as though you are on your final destination? If LTO continues to shrug off these concerns, they are going to build more highways to hell.
