SAN PEDRO, Laguna — A delivery van rammed into the rear of a container truck along the southbound lane of the South Luzon Expressway near the San Pedro Exit on Monday afternoon, February 16, resulting in a serious road incident that injured a passenger and disrupted traffic flow.

According to initial reports, the van failed to maintain sufficient braking distance before colliding with the truck ahead. The force of the impact crushed the front portion of the vehicle, trapping the van’s helper inside. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene and conducted a rescue operation to extract the victim from the wreckage. The condition of the injured passenger has yet to be fully disclosed, but authorities confirmed he was brought to a medical facility for treatment.

The crash caused heavy traffic congestion along the southbound lane while clearing operations were underway. Motorists experienced significant delays as responders secured the area and removed debris from the roadway.

While accidents like this are often summarized as “driver error,” the recurring pattern suggests a deeper issue. Expressways are designed for speed, but speed without discipline becomes danger. Many drivers underestimate stopping distance, especially when driving vans, trucks, and loaded vehicles whose braking response differs greatly from smaller cars. In a culture of urgency—deliveries to complete, deadlines to beat, passengers to serve—distance becomes a sacrifice to time.

This incident raises a broader question beyond a single crash. Road safety campaigns often emphasize helmets, seatbelts, and drunk driving, yet safe following distance remains one of the most ignored rules despite being one of the simplest to obey. Every rear-end collision is rarely sudden; it is usually predictable seconds before impact.

If accidents repeatedly stem from impatience rather than ignorance, then the problem may not only be about road knowledge but road behavior.

At what point do we stop blaming the accident and start confronting our driving habits? (Larawan mula sa: Laguna Report News / Facebook)