MMDA chief wants traffic education in school curriculum to curb road deaths

In an effort to curb the alarming rate of road deaths, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Emerson Carlos wants to have traffic education included in the curriculum of all schools, particularly in high school levels. He aired his thoughts in an interview during the first MMDA Road Safety Forum in Makati City.

The chief said that high school would be the perfect time for youngsters to learn about traffic education. The teenagers are at the right age to learn road safety and how to drive properly.

Between the age of 14 to 16 (years old) yung mga level na yun dapat siguro tayo mayroon traffic education which should be mandatory. Hindi kung sino lang may gusto ng traffic education,” said MMDA Chief Carlos.

[Teenagers between the age of 14 to 16 years old are the levels that should have mandatory traffic education. It shouldn’t be an option for those want to learn traffic education.]

Carlos said that for the campaign to be fruitful, there needs to be strict enforcement of traffic rules and compliance with administrative policies.

In the past, both private and government entities advocating road safety have created a module for schools to adapt. These were presented to the Department of Education two administrations ago. They tried to implement this in the curriculum of grade school levels but it didn’t prosper.

“Kailangan mas maging strict ang gobyerno. In fact, nasabi ko na minsan na i-review natin kung sino talagang karapat-dapat magkaroon ng lisensya at karapatan mag-drive sa ating mga lansangan kung ang mga lansangan natin ay nagiging killer na, dapat ito ay ating sugpuin,” said Carlos.

[The government has to be strict. In fact, I’ve already mentioned before that we have to review who really deserves to have a driver’s license and to drive on our roads. If roads accidents are becoming the cause of deaths, it should be stopped.]