THE HAZMAT TIME BOMB ON OUR ROADS

THE HAZMAT TIME BOMB ON OUR ROADS

Let me say this plainly: we are sitting on a ticking time bomb—and it’s riding down our roads in unmarked trucks, operated by drivers with no special training, surrounded by civilians who don’t even know the danger is there.

I’m talking about hazardous materials. HAZMAT. Chemicals, fuels, flammables, toxins—substances so dangerous that one wrong move, one bad brake, one reckless swerve can cause a disaster we’re utterly unprepared to handle.

We Regulate Tricycles Better Than Toxic Cargo

How can it be that we require tricycle drivers to register annually, but we don’t require HAZMAT drivers to have specialized training or licensing?

Hazardous materials are being transported across our provinces, cities, even right through busy intersections—without a comprehensive national policy to ensure their safe transport. That’s why I wrote to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to urge immediate, coordinated government action. Because if we don’t act now, the consequences could be irreversible.

What's Missing? Almost Everything.

Let’s start with the basics:

  • No mandatory special licenses for drivers hauling HAZMAT cargo? That’s like letting anyone fly a plane just because they’ve driven a car.
  • No specific vehicle inspections for trucks carrying toxic chemicals? Not even periodic brake checks?
  • No laws preventing HAZMAT trucks from entering tunnels? What happens if there’s a leak, or worse, an explosion in a confined underground space? The entire structure—and everyone in it—is toast.

And let’s not forget that many of these trucks don’t even have visible hazard markings. Other drivers have no idea they’re tailgating a mobile chemical bomb.

Ignorance Is Dangerous

There’s also the issue of public awareness. Ask the average motorist what to do when they see a HAZMAT vehicle. Most won’t even recognize one. Others think it’s just another delivery truck. We need public education campaigns—on TV, online, and even in driving schools—explaining how to safely interact with these high-risk vehicles on the road.

Who Pays When It All Goes Wrong?

Let’s say a truck carrying chlorine crashes into a public market. Who pays for the cleanup? For the hospitalizations? For the lives lost.

Right now, it seems that there’s no legal requirement for third-party liability insurance specific to HAZMAT transport. It seems that there’s no dedicated cleanup fund either. The victims? Left with bills, trauma, and zero accountability from the companies responsible.

It’s not just unfair—it’s criminal negligence at a national scale.

And What About Our First Responders?

We expect our firefighters and police to run toward the danger when there’s a chemical spill or explosion. But do they have the proper gear, training, or protocols to handle HAZMAT situations? Most don’t.

We need to equip and train first responders to deal with chemical leaks, toxic inhalation, and environmental decontamination. Otherwise, we’re just sending them into situations they’re not prepared to survive.

And Yes, Let’s Talk About Terrorism

We’ve seen in other countries how HAZMAT cargo has been used in terrorist plots. In the wrong hands, a truck of toxic material becomes a weapon of mass destruction. That’s why every HAZMAT incident must be investigated for possible links to terrorism.

Security isn’t just about guarding borders. It’s about securing what moves within them.

What Should Be Done?

The solutions aren’t revolutionary. They’re just long overdue:

  • Special licensing and certification for HAZMAT drivers
  • Strict inspections for HAZMAT vehicles
  • Clearly defined road rules—including tunnel restrictions
  • Mandatory warning labels and visibility standards
  • Third-party liability insurance requirements
  • Accountability for environmental cleanup
  • Driver protections for those unfairly blamed in incidents
  • Enhanced training and gear for first responders
  • Public education on how to respond to HAZMAT vehicles
  • Government oversight and inter-agency coordination

In short, we need a national HAZMAT policy framework, backed by law, funded by the proper channels, and implemented with real teeth.

The Clock Is Ticking

We don’t need to wait for the next tragic incident to act. The absence of policy is not neutral—it’s dangerous. Every day we delay action, we increase the odds that something will go horribly, irreversibly wrong.

President Marcos Jr. has spoken of innovation, modernization, and infrastructure development. But no number of bridges or expressways will matter if we don’t secure what’s moving across them.

We need to regulate HAZMAT transport with the seriousness it deserves—before it becomes a headline we can’t take back.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

07-26-2025

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