MMDA eyes female bus drivers for 'killer highways'

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is considering having bus firms hire female drivers especially for two of Metro Manila's so-called "killer highways" — Commonwealth Avenue and the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino on Monday cited studies that female bus drivers were less aggressive and were not as likely to engage in a race with other buses. "Pwedeng mandohan ang bus operators mag-deploy ng female bus operators lalo sa Commonwealth (Avenue) at EDSA," Tolentino said in an interview on dzBB radio on Monday. (We can convince bus operators to deploy female bus operators especially along Commonwealth Avenue and EDSA.) EDSA and Commonwealth Avenue earned the nickname "killer highways" because of the deadly road accidents there, many of them involving passenger buses. He cited data from studies in Carnegie Mellon University and the MMDA indicating that females drive more safely than their male counterparts. Tolentino said more male drivers are prone to drunk driving and road accidents. In contrast, more female drivers take safety precautions like wearing seatbelts. "Kaya tingin namin mas safe ang babae na driver sa buses (We think it would be safer to have bus women drive buses)," he said. "Hindi sila nagkakarera at bihirang bihira involved sa accident ang kababaihang driver, disiplinado pa (Female drivers do not tend to race against one another and are not as likely to be involved in accidents)," he added. On the other hand, he said female drivers can handle modern buses, which have amenities like power steering. Besides, he said females drive buses in Washington D.C. in the United States. "Mas agresibo ang lalaking driver, ang babae di gaano kumukuha ng risk sa pagmamaneho. May kabagalan pero mas disiplinado," he said. (Males are more aggressive unlike females who prefer to avoid risks in driving. The females may drive slower but they are more disciplined) As for men, he said they can still work in bus firms as conductors. In the meantime, he said the MMDA will support the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in training bus drivers. The TESDA had proposed the training following a series of deadly bus accidents in recent months. – VVP, GMANews.TV