I was making small talk with a Canadian who was here for a short visit the other day, and he mentioned that he was supposed to go to southern Negros but because he came into the island late, he would be spending a night at a hotel in the city because doesn’t want his friend who will pick him up to take a long drive night time here because he didn’t think it would be safe. His concern was drunken night time drivers.
I joked that he shouldn’t worry about it too much because the people of this island drive like they are drunk all the time, regardless of time of day or night, but he got me thinking of just how much more dangerous our roads do become when night falls.
His primary concern was drunk drivers, which is quite valid, considering that such violations are rarely apprehended. If you come to think of it, I don’t think I know anyone has ever been stopped for drunk driving here, although there was a time that breathalyzer tests were even being threatened. However, those devices have probably been permanently stashed and forgotten in a drawer somewhere, broken due to lack of use, or have already been rendered obsolete. The bottom line is that our roads can be quite scary if you are afraid of drunk drivers, but not scary at all for those who drive drunk.
As dangerous as the drunk drivers are the vehicles with no lights, especially tail lights. I encounter these types of hazards regularly, mostly in the form of motorcycles or tricycles, and they are quite dangerous, especially in sections of the highway that are poorly lit, as lack of visibility makes them a disaster waiting to happen. Enforcement to prevent these hazards should be relatively easy, but as with most things in this country, enforcement is always the problem. These dangerous vehicles are rarely flagged down, and if ever they are it is only at those static surprise checkpoints that seem to target only motorcycles. The problem with these types of checkpoints is that the non-compliant vehicles usually see them first and then engage in the usual highway waiting game.
On the flip side of the no lights are the too much lights. These are the vehicles with third party lighting kits that are usually installed improperly, lighting up their way but at the same time blinding everyone in their path. These hazards are everywhere at night, and the authorities do nothing about it. In fact, some emergency vehicles are even guilty of this offense, with their non-standard flashing lights announcing their presence but at the same time blinding those who are in their immediate area. Anyone who has been behind a cop or ambulance whose special lights are on, even if there is no emergency, knows how annoying it can be. The operating handbook for those vehicles should include a low intensity mode for those ‘emergency’ lights so they don’t unnecessarily blind and distract other drivers.
Aside from the lights (or lack thereof) on vehicles, there is also inconsistent street lighting to deal with. Those of us who go out at night must’ve seen how some streets are well lit, some are over lit, and some not lit at all, making driving at night a pain, especially those whose eyes are not as young as before.
One of the most dangerous hazards of night time driving are the improperly or illegally parked cars and trucks, especially along poorly lit highways. These are disasters waiting to happen that have become normalized because everyone tolerates it, since government does not provide proper rest stops for truck drivers. These parked hazards are ok for those who pass by the area regularly and have been forewarned, but those just passing by and are totally unfamiliar with the area have a very high chance of slamming into these hazards, totaling a vehicle and most likely losing life and limb.
So is it more dangerous to drive at night in Negros? It is hard to disagree with anyone who thinks so, because of all the hazards that have been allowed to lurk on our roads. If you come to think of it, it shouldn’t be that difficult to make night time drives a lot safer for everyone, especially in the more rural parts of the island, but unfortunately for those who must travel at night, our public officials and the authorities in charge just don’t seem to be in the mood to go to work after the sun sets.
All we need is someone to watch out for and apprehend the following: drunk drivers, vehicles with no lights, vehicles with improper lights, and illegally parked vehicles. Is that so hard to do? Since the problem has been there for decades, maybe it is?*
