DESPITE EFFORTS BY the Palace to downplay and even deny the road rage encounter of the President’s youngest son, Vinnie, with the thugs of Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando at the North Luzon Expressway, the mere filing by kuya Rep. Sandro Marcos of the road rage bill confirmed the incident.
The bill of the House Majority Leader from Ilocos Norte defined road rage as an intentional and aggressive act and imposes stricter penalties for aggressive and retaliatory driving.
Vinnie, who was driving without the usual security from PSG, cut through the four-car convoy of Fernando’s security surrounding Vinnie’s patrol car and demanded his license. During their inspection of his license, and upon seeing his surname, they all speedily scampered. But Vinnie, upon the suggestion of a friend he called, took note of their car plate numbers and forwarded the same to the Land Transportation Office.
When asked during the Palace briefing, the press office feigned not knowing about the incident, even denying such in an effort to downplay it.
SANDRO’S WRATH
Sandro’s proposed Anti Road Rage Act (House Bill 8190) sends a clear message that public roads are not arenas for intimidation, threats, and violence, and will draw a firm legal line between ordinary traffic violations and deliberate acts that put lives at risk.
“We cannot allow road rages to continue on our roads, because one reckless decision can turn into a lifelong tragedy for an innocent family,” Marcos said.
Under HB 8190, road rage is defined as any intentional and aggressive act committed by a driver or occupant arising from a traffic-related incident, carried out to intimidate, threaten, harass, retaliate against, or cause harm to another road user, and creating a clear and present danger to life, limb, or property.
STERN WARNING
The bill lists acts such as driving in a manner that endangers another road user, using a vehicle as a means of intimidation or pursuit, and threatening or assaulting another person in connection with a traffic encounter.
The bill imposes a prison term of six months to one year and/or a fine of P20,000 to P100,000 when road rage is committed without causing damage, injury, or death.
If road rage results in property damage or physical injury, the penalty increases to imprisonment of two to four years and/or a fine of P100,000 to P200,000.
Under the bill, if the offense results in two or more less serious physical injuries, or a serious physical injury or death, the offender shall be prosecuted for intentional felonies under the Revised Penal Code, with the appropriate penalties imposed in their maximum period, and a fine ranging from P200,000 to P500,000.
The bill also states that these penalties are without prejudice to civil liability for damages.
MORE CONSEQUENCES
The measure also requires offenders, in all cases, to undergo anger management training as may be determined by the courts, in coordination with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), Politiko reported.
The bill also states that the driver’s license of the accused shall be immediately suspended. Upon final determination of liability, the offender shall be perpetually disqualified from obtaining or holding a driver’s license.
If the offender is in possession of a firearm and holds a license to carry it, the license shall be automatically revoked, with perpetual disqualification from securing any license to carry a firearm.
ALARMING STATS
Road rage incidents in the Philippines are alarmingly frequent and on the rise, with recent data indicating they contribute significantly to the country’s high number of traffic crashes.
In 2022, a significant portion of the roughly 72,000 recorded road crashes in Metro Manila were linked to road rage, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
Recent statistics indicate that eight out of 10 drivers in the Philippines admit to exhibiting aggressive behavior at least once a year.
Road crash incidents rose by 27.6% in 2024, with 31,258 cases reported by the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), compared to 24,495 in 2023.
In 2024, a total of 2,747 people died in road crashes, up by 35.32% from 2023 with 87.17% of these cases attributed to reckless driving, which includes behaviors often associated with road rage.
STRESS-RELATED?
Common triggers, according to studies, are the perceived loss of personal space, reckless merging, impatient driving, and heavy traffic congestion.
Videos of violent confrontations, including the use of firearms, have frequently gone viral in recent years.
The growing number of vehicles, particularly in Metro Manila, has intensified traffic congestion, leading to higher stress levels for motorists.
Due to the increasing severity of these incidents, there have been efforts in Congress to pass the “Anti-Road Rage Act” to define and penalize this behavior specifically.
NLEX WIDE ENOUGH
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla summoned Fernando to explain his side and told the LTO that whenever Fernando uses NLEx, he “takes up four lanes that you can’t overtake.”
Fernando on Monday broke his silence, deferring to the Palace’s statement and the LTO, according to an ABS-CBN report.
In a statement, Sandro Marcos said “we cannot allow road rages to continue on our roads, because one reckless decision can turn into a lifelong tragedy for an innocent family.”