A motorist who loses his temper and acts inappropriately, or even violently against another motorist, pedestrian or bystander has become an “event to watch” along the thoroughfares and streets. The action is known as “road rage” which can be quite ugly, showing a human flaring up in temper tantrums characterized by “unpleasant and disruptive behaviors or emotional outbursts.”

If recorded on video, it could be easily trending on social media. If allowed to go unchecked, it could overcome educated behavior on the streets. The uproar – or concern – reaches all sectors, even prodding the legislators to call for an investigation on the matter.

Two bills have already been filed to penalize road rage. Both are titled “The Anti Road Rage Act” – one filed in December 2019 and the other in August 2023.

Both bills define road rage as “aggressive, hostile, or violent behavior in traffic or on the road by a motorist,” such as: “Wild gesturing at the other concerned party or any of his/her passengers; cursing or using bad language or any form of verbal insults; any physical attack at another or an attempt thereof; reckless driving; any kind of threat or intimidation; any use of force against another person…”

A significant part of the bill seeks to provide the government authority to prosecute road rage suspects on behalf of victims, “in cases where victims are unable or unwilling to pursue legal action due to fear, intimidation, or other reasons.”

What the bills also seek to do is to impose hefty fines of from ₱50,000 to ₱250,000 and imprisonment of from six months to 12 years, in cases resulting to death, suspension of driver’s license, and for government employees, suspension from office.

The bills come to mind today after news of another road rage incident.  According to police reports, a female motorist driving a sports utility vehicle (SUV) overtook a compact vehicle, suddenly stopped, and on reverse gear repeatedly hit the compact vehicle. The report said that the Land Transportation Office had already suspended the license of the driver.

Another viral road rage video which initiated a Senate investigation showed a former policeman who went down from his vehicle, hit a cyclist on the head with his hand, and cocked a handgun. The case was resolved at a police station with the victim not pressing charges.

Until a law is passed defining and penalizing road rage, the next one who loses his cool on the road will be slapped with a “traffic violation of Republic Act 4136, (Land Transportation and Traffic Code)” for reckless driving or for being an “improper person to operate a motor vehicle,” and have his or her driver’s license suspended.  Meanwhile, the victim can file complaints for injury or damage to property against the perpetrator.

A law that puts that all together and penalizes the act of road rage itself can do much to temper the hot tempers on the road.