Rethinking Road Safety After a Tragic August Accident

By Sherman Calotes | Philippine People's Press 

It was the first of August when tragedy struck a quiet barangay in our city. A motorcycle crash involving three young individuals claimed the lives of two students young, hopeful, full of dreams. They weren’t wearing helmets. And while we cannot say for certain that helmets would have saved them, we also can’t deny the likelihood that they might have made a difference.

The incident has re-ignited a conversation we’ve had before but never fully acted upon. Last year 2024 , Ordinance No. 072 was proposed in our city council by Hon. Marjorie Revelo an ordinance seeking to adopt the Motorcycle Helmet Act (Republic Act 10054) at the local level. It wasn’t meant to defy national law, but rather to reinforce it locally to emphasize that safety begins in our streets. That ordinance was vetoed and quietly dismissed.

Now, we’re left to ask: Have we paid the price for inaction? Between Freedom and Responsibility

Opposition to stricter helmet mandates has often leaned on two pillars: identity and convenience. For some, removing helmets means being recognizable in their communities. For others, it’s simply more comfortable to ride without one, especially on short trips or under the sun’s heat.

Yet freedom without responsibility is dangerous. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), over 20,000 road crash deaths were recorded in 2024. Of that number, nearly half involved two- or three-wheeled vehicles. The World Health Organization adds that correct helmet use reduces the risk of death by 42% and the risk of head injury by 69%. These are not just figures they are lives.

The Helmet Debate: More Than Just a Law This isn’t just about whether we wear helmets. It’s about whether we value safety enough to make uncomfortable, sometimes unpopular, choices. It's about balancing public perception with public protection. Should we enforce safety even when some see it as an inconvenience? That’s the real question.

Many cities across the Philippines have successfully implemented localized ordinances to complement RA 10054. Why haven’t we?

The accident on August 1 is a grim reminder that policies aren't just documents they are shields that could have saved lives.

A Call to Reflect, Not to Blame

Let’s be clear: this is not a moment to point fingers. The pain of the families who lost their children is unimaginable. No law, no ordinance, no helmet can take away that grief. But as a community, we owe it to them to ask tough questions and to find courage in uncomfortable truths.

We must challenge our assumptions:

 Is the desire to be seen worth the risk of not being safe? Are we preparing our youth not just for academics, but for the responsibility of being road users? Are our schools doing enough to instill discipline and awareness beyond the classroom?

To the youth: discipline is not about restriction it’s about self-respect. Riding fast or without a helmet may look “cool” for a second, but it could cost your future. To parents: remind your children that safety isn’t weakness it’s wisdom. To leaders: reconsider the veto. Revisit the law. Reopen the debate.

Grief That Should Lead to Change

Our condolences will never be enough. But we can make them mean something by choosing to protect others from the same fate.

This isn't about blindly agreeing with helmet laws. It's about facing reality with open eyes and asking what kind of community we want to be one that avoids discomfort, or one that embraces responsibility?

August will always remind us of this loss. But it can also be the month we started to care a little deeper, listen a little closer, and act a little braver.

Let this not just be a memory. Let this be a movement.

OPINION COLUMN by Philippine People's Press | In Truth We Prevail