Anti-road rage bill pushed following Edsa-Ayala incident

Road rage suspect Gerrard Raymund Yu (Photo courtesy of Pol. Maj. Gen Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.)

MANILA, Philippines — San Jose del Monte City Rep. Florida Robes has called for the passage of a bill that will penalize drivers engaging in road rage, after a driver was shot dead by a fellow motorist  along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) in Makati City.

Robes said on Friday that she has already filed House Bill (HB) No. 1511 or the proposed Anti-Road Rage Act, which will penalize drivers who resort to road rage with a fine of P250,000 and revocation of driver’s license for five years.

“Road rage incidents that result in serious injuries or even death of a person will likely be prevented if motorists are aware that  a hostile act of cursing, use of foul language or even moderate screaming can land them in jail,” the lawmaker said in a statement.

Robes was referring to the killing of stay-in driver Aniceto Mateo — who was gunned down at around 2:30 p.m. l

The. police eventually arrested the suspect, identified as Gerard Raymond Yu.

The vehicle and the firearm supposedly used by Yu were also recovered.

“I grieve with the family of Aniceto Mateo who met his untimely passing while trying to earn a decent living for his loved ones despite the fact that he has reached his senior years. His death was just utterly senseless,” Robes said.

HB No. 1511 was filed by Robes last August 2022.  It is still pending before the House of Representatives’ committee on transportation.

According to Robes, there is a need for a law penalizing road rage since the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said that a significant percentage of the 90,258 road crash incidents in 2014 were triggered by road rage.

“In the Philippines, road rage cases are on the rise. Recent road rage statistics showed that eight out of ten drivers admit to exhibiting aggressive behavior at least once a year, while nine out of ten drivers think of aggressive driving as a threat to their personal safety,” she said.

Under the bill, road rage is defined as “any aggressive, hostile or violent behavior in traffic or on the road by a motorist  which may include mild to moderate screaming, wild gesturing at others, cursing or using bad language, physical attack at another or an attempt thereof, reckless driving, any kinds of threat or intimidation, any use of force against another person and other analogous circumstances.”

The bill also allows victims of a driver committing road rage to file separate complaints if he or she wishes. 

In addition to this, the bill states that drivers are not excused from liabilities even if they claim to be under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or any other mind-altering substance.