Editorial – Jail those road monster

It’s a good thing that the city government of Davao and the other government agencies are campaigning in earnest against reckless drivers who have caused the death and maiming of hundreds of passengers and pedestrians.
Before the onset of the Kadayawan Festival, the traffic enforcers had made around 500 arrests of drivers for various violations of traffic rules and regulations. The public now expects more arrests and convictions in order for government to make a dent on this recurring problem. Take note that the sharp increase in deaths and injuries due to road mishaps is a nationwide phenomenon. In the nation’s capital and other Metro Manila cities passengers are dying by the dozens in traffic accidents due to over-speeding and other devil-may-care antics of rogue motorists.
The campaign is just right since the imposition of prohibitive fines sometime this year seems ineffective in deterring reckless drivers from committing infractions, thereby reducing road accidents.
Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte himself has taken personal charge of the campaign on his level both in waging heightened information campaign and  in the actual arrest of  erring drivers, some of whom drive their vehicles with wanton abandon as if they have just taken some prohibited drugs.
With the mayor taking a hands-on role in the drive, Dabawenyos are expecting some positive results, like throwing half-crazed drivers to where they belong, in the calaboose, and let them rot there.