Tricycle Drivers Never Learned Their Lessons

Tricycle drivers always rush the passengers to their destinations, ignoring humps and rough roads. Even if they are not allowed in the highways, they would still use it, despite the possibilities of encountering accidents against other speeding larger vehicles.

What is the use of earning extra few peso if they would face huge expenses when they met an accident and their passengers were also hurt or worst, had died? Apparently, most of the tricycle drivers don’t mind it.

Even if a tricycle should only carry 5 passengers including the driver, they overloaded it with 7 or more people!

Statistics from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) would show that there’s an increase of the number of accidents involving tricycles yearly since 2006.

Tricycles has been proliferating since it became the fastest mode of transportation next to motorcycles, especially that most urban places have very slow traffic roads.

Local governments are supposed to regulate and organize the tricycle driver and operator groups on their jurisdictions. Since LGUs are actually earning from TODAs (Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association), why don’t they fund regular safety trainings or seminars for them?

Operators are also responsible to educate their contract drivers to follow traffic rules and give utmost importance to the lives of their passengers.

How safe it is to ride a tricycle? Next to the motorcycle which is considered as the most prone to accident is the tricycle. 

In the Philippines, there are different tricycle designs. Some had made it to accommodate a maximum of 5 passengers only but others were carrying up to 8 passengers. There are tricycles which are closed (no front and back windows) and too low for the passengers’ head to get hurt when hitting humps.

Do not underestimate the importance of having windows in a tricycle. It could save your life.

In Metro Manila, most of the tricycles are too small for two persons and too low for a passenger with an average height.

If you’re a commuter, consider these advice when riding a tricycle:

1. As much as you’re in hurry, do not ride an overloaded tricycle.

2. If a tricycle is too low or too small for you to move inside, don’t get in.

3. Always be on alert with other vehicles around the tricycle you’re riding, especially if the driver is driving fast.

4. If a tricycle doesn’t have front and back windows, find ways on how to alert yourself if something will bump in the vehicle you’re riding.

5. If you hire a tricycle especially at night, ask the driver not to fetch anyone at his back seat. Stay alert against possible hold-up.

6. You might hesitate to remind the tricycle driver to slow down in driving but do it when necessary, otherwise, prepare yourself on accidents.

It is better to assume than disregarding the possibilities of accidents. It is not being paranoid, staying alert against irresponsible drivers won’t hurt you.