License to save lives

In the US and the Philippines, efforts to make roads safer are intensifying, though the approaches differ, they both agree that driving is a responsibility, and those behind the wheel must meet stricter standards.

In the US, truck drivers are now facing increased scrutiny under a directive implementing an executive order by President Donald Trump.

The Department of Transportation will now remove commercial drivers from the road if they fail to meet English language proficiency requirements.

Though the law mandating English ability has long existed, the new directive enforces it with harsher penalties.

“We are issuing guidance that ensures a driver who cannot understand English will not drive a vehicle in this country. Period. Full stop,” US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

The logic behind the policy is to emphasize that communication on the road is vital.

Drivers must be able to read traffic signs, respond to authorities and log reports accurately.

However, immigrant drivers, who make up an estimated 18 percent of the workforce and over 700,000 truckers as of 2021, worry this could disproportionately affect them.

Migrant truckers, many from Central and South America, have raised concerns about discrimination in enforcement.

What defines "sufficient proficiency"? Would an accent or appearance trigger roadside testing? Critics argue that these vague boundaries could lead to racial profiling or unjust penalties.

“It’s already hard to get a job if you don’t have at least a year of experience. Now imagine adding English fluency on top of that. It’s going to take people a lot more time to find work,” Haitian immigrant Kevinson Jean, a US truck driver, said in an interview.

Yet, safety advocates argue that, if someone is entrusted with 40 tons of steel barrelling through a highway, clear communication is non-negotiable.

This mirrors a growing sentiment in the Philippines, where Transport chief Vince Dizon has tightened rules after a string of tragic accidents, most notably the multi-vehicle collision on SCTEX that killed 12 and injured dozens more.

The Department of Transportation now requires public utility vehicle drivers to undergo mandatory drug testing every three months and limits driving hours to four per trip.

Driver substitutions are now mandatory for long trips, no more relying on conductors to keep watch.

“People do not feel safe on our streets that is the reality,” said Dizon, calling for stricter roadworthiness checks and better driver training.

These measures, while urgently needed, also raise concerns about burdening drivers and transport operators with increased bureaucracy. Mandatory drug tests every quarter? Shortened driving hours? For drivers already earning modest wages, such requirements can mean added stress and lower income.

Still, as Dizon aptly said, “Drivers are responsible for the lives and safety of passengers.” In that light, it becomes harder to argue against stricter protocols.

Like doctors with their patients, drivers must treat each trip with the same gravity, lives are in their hands. And, as commuters, we shouldn't have to trust our lives to someone under the influence, untrained or unfit for the role.

But the comparison also reveals a stark contrast. In the US, the focus is language.

In the Philippines, it’s sobriety and stamina. Both are critical, but the balance between enforcement and accessibility remains a global challenge.

While well-intentioned, these policies must be paired with support systems, whether it's language training in the US or improved wages and health programs for Filipino drivers.

Safety cannot come at the cost of fairness or viability. Ultimately, we must ask: Is the industry willing to evolve in ways that protect both drivers and passengers?

The answer may determine whether our roads become safer or simply harder places to make a living.