Friday, February 29, 2008 Ocampo: Deadly dive and driving deadly By Tek Ocampo Newsroom
DOLPESIA Ondong, the mother of Win-win, could not accept the death of her son. Dolpesia is a mother of nine kids. One of her sons died last December after being run over by a vehicle along Quimpo Boulevard. Now, the one she described as the most helpful and industrious son is no longer alive to help them after that death dive.
I have been living here in Davao City since I was a baby. I have been seeing kids diving into the murky waters of Davao River from the Gov. Generoso Bridge in Bankerohan for as long as I can remember. Most of the kids are just showing off, some are dragged into it by their friends.
I always ask myself, is it safe to jump off the bridge? My father once told me that it's very dangerous. He said that it was during the Second World War when the old bailey bridge that used to link the northern and southern parts of Davao was destroyed. My father believes that some parts of that bridge still lie in ruins beneath the same spot where the kids play and dive. This does not include the tree trunks and driftwoods that are underwater.
On February 16, 2008, two boys jumped off Gov. Generoso Bridge 2. Some are claiming they were quarreling over a one-peso coin and in some inexplicable twist that can only be attributed to the rambunctiousness of the young, they jumped off the bridge. One of them identified as a certain Win-win died upon arriving at the hospital while the other identified as Joel was found dead floating somewhere near Toril the day after.
Today, as before, the bridge is still a favorite diving spot of boys. But worse, I see boys who are high on rugby among those taking the dive. If some kids in normal state of mind die in jumping over the bridge, how much more if they are high on intoxicating substance?
Can the City Government do something about this problem? The government should protect the lives and limbs of its citizens. I think the city government should prevent the people from jumping off the bridge or at least reprimand them just to prevent such incidents from happening again. A warning sign will be a good start.
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Accidents involving motorcycles are increasing in Davao City. My Testigo news show at GMA TV 5 Davao alone has reported numerous motorcycle accidents. Many of those involved in the mishaps died. Countless are injured.
The most common cause of accidents is reckless driving. Some drivers, aside from not having a valid driver's license, don't wear helmets or any protective gear on their body. A number of drivers refuse to wear helmets, saying this is too hot or too uncomfortable, while others just don't want their faces covered.
Among us members of the On Any Sunday Riders Club it's a must to wear a helmet and other protective gear while driving our motorcycle. The helmet protects one's head from the deadly impact of collisions and falls. Without it, one is likely to be seriously injured or die due to broken skull or neck during an accident.
I have experienced three accidents with my motorcycle. Two were serious. Good thing in all three, I was wearing a helmet.
Back in 1995, I was riding my 400cc big bike along Puan. The road there at that time was still very rough. I was trying to overtake a van when I lost control of my motorcycle. My motorcycle flipped twice and I was thrown about 10 meters from my bike with my face on the ground. Without my helmet, my face would have already been "erased."
Sometime in 2003, I was riding my 600cc big bike along J.P. Laurel Avenue when a car in front of me suddenly stopped. I stepped on the brakes but my motorcycle skidded, throwing me under the rear bumper of the car. My bike incurred damages but I was not injured.
No one is a master rider of motorcycles. Even experts can make mistakes. If we don't wear our helmets, aside from violating the law, we risk our very lives every time we travel.
And if you want to buy a helmet, make sure it can withstand the strong impact of collision. You can always buy cheap helmets in the market. But if you value your life, make sure you get the best helmet money can buy. (tbocampo@gmanetwork.com)
