A viral video showing a jeepney driver violating driving rules has drawn the attention of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
On Wednesday, August 27, the DOTr commented on a Facebook post by automative publication VISOR, which featured a video submitted by a reader who encounter what they described as a “reckless” jeepney driver.
In its comment, the DOTr said that it has raised the concern to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
The LTO oversees the issuance of driver’s licenses, while the LTFRB handles the regulation of public utility vehicles and the granting of operating franchises.
“Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We have already endorsed this concern to LTO and LTFRB and will give an update once available,” the Facebook account of the DOTr commented.
The video showed the jeepney driver continuously using his mobile phone while holding the wheel.
A lit cigarette was also spotted in his left hand, despite a clearly posted “No Smoking” sign inside the vehicle.
According to the sender, the incident occured on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 26, while they were on their way home.
“I had a jeepney ride that honestly felt really unsafe. The driver was doing a lot of things that made me and the other passengers uncomfortable,” the sender said, as quoted by VISOR.
“First, he was driving recklessly, almost like he was in a race. When a passenger said, ‘Para/sa tabi lang po,’ he didn’t hear anything. It wasn’t until all the passengers shouted ‘para raw’ that he suddenly hit the brakes. That’s when we all jolted forward, holding on for our lives,” the sender added.
The driver only slowed down after a concerned passenger confronted him, pointing out that there was a minor on board the vehicle.
“Right after the confrontation, he grabbed his phone and started checking it while driving. That’s when I decided to start recording a video and taking photos. To make things worse, he even lit a cigarette and began smoking inside the jeepney despite the clear ‘No Smoking’ sign,” the sender said.
“Throughout the trip, he kept glancing at his phone, chatting and scrolling, with his eyes off the road. The whole ride, I felt like something bad could happen any second. It was scary, knowing our safety was being taken so lightly,” the sender added.
The sender also stated that they had already reached out to the LTFRB before sending the video to VISOR.
“Hopefully, something is done so no other passengers have to go through this kind of unsafe experience,” they said.
The post has so far garnered almost 650,000 views, 8,100 likes and reactions and 2,300 comments.
Under Republic Act 10913, or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act, drivers are prohibited from using electronic gadgets while operating a vehicle, including when the vehicle is temporarily stopped at traffic lights or intersections.
Meanwhile, the LTFRB has a memorandum requiring all holders of certificates of public convenience to strictly observe the smoking ban pursuant, in accordance with the Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act.
The memorandum enforces a “100% SMOKE FREE policy on all public utility vehicles and public transport terminals.”
Jeepney drivers are also required by the LTFRB to wear light blue polo shirts as uniforms while on duty.
Drivers are likewise required to wear a seatbelt whenever the vehicle’s engine is running, in compliance with Republic Act 8750 or the Seat Belts Use Act.
