FEBRUARY 9, 2026 — EDSA never fails to test the patience of Filipino motorists. Every morning, it’s the same story: bumper-to-bumper traffic, frustrated drivers, and the ever-tempting yellow bus lane that promises a faster ride. This Monday morning is no exception — over 20 motorists learned the hard way at Santolan Station that shortcuts come with a hefty price tag.

The Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT) flagged down drivers of SUVs, AUVs, and mostly motorcycles who dared to use the busway. One rider even tried to escape by counterflowing, only to be trapped by a bus. His violations stacked up: unauthorized use of the busway, reckless driving, and an obscured plate number. 

As SAICT’s Roldan Turla explained, “Yung violation niya na una yung … unauthorized vehicle passing through busway. Tapos yung counterflow niya, bale papasok po sa reckless driving. Tapos yung plaka niya tinatakpan ng facemask. So ibig sabihin ginagawa na niya iyon — baka dati niya nang ginagawa para hindi siya ma-NCAP.”

(His first violation was unauthorized use of the busway. Then his counterflow counts as reckless driving. His plate was covered with a facemask, which means he might have been doing that before to avoid NCAP.)

The rider admitted, “Natakot ako mahuli eh.” 

(I got scared of being caught.) 

Now, his motorcycle faces possible impoundment.

Aren’t these excuses so familiar by now? “Traffic lang,” “Nagmadali,” “Naipit.” We’ve all heard them, maybe even said them ourselves. Yet, the question remains: Does personal inconvenience justify putting others at risk? 

Turla stressed that private vehicles in the busway disrupt efficiency and endanger lives. And with fines starting at ₱5,000, violators aren’t just risking safety — they’re burning holes in their wallets.

This isn’t an isolated crackdown. In fact, Santolan has been a hotspot, with 38 violators caught last Thursday and 48 on Friday. Clearly, the message isn’t sinking in. 

So what does this say about us as a driving culture? Are we too willing to bend the rules when traffic gets unbearable? Or do we simply not believe enforcement will last?

The busway was designed to make commuting smoother for thousands of Filipinos who rely on buses daily. Every private vehicle that sneaks in delays those passengers, risks accidents, and undermines the system. 

Maybe it’s time we ask ourselves: Is shaving a few minutes off our drive worth the chaos it causes?

(Image: Philippine News Agency)