MARCH 3, 2026 — House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos has filed House Bill 8190, the proposed Anti Road Rage Act, which seeks to criminalize road rage and impose tougher penalties on aggressive and retaliatory driving. The bill is a direct response to the growing number of violent traffic encounters that have gone viral online, sparking public outrage and fear.

Marcos said in his statement: “Public roads are not arenas for intimidation, threats and violence.” 

He stressed that road rage incidents don’t just affect the two parties involved — commuters, passengers, and pedestrians are often caught in the crossfire. 

“We cannot allow road rages to continue on our roads, because one reckless decision can turn into a lifelong tragedy for an innocent family,” he added.

What the bill actually says

HB 8190 defines road rage as any intentional and aggressive act arising from a traffic incident, carried out to intimidate, threaten, harass, retaliate against, or cause harm to another road user. 

Examples include:

• Driving in a manner that endangers others
• Using a vehicle to intimidate or pursue
• Threatening or assaulting another person during a traffic encounter

The penalties are tiered:

• No injury or damage: 6 months to 1 year imprisonment, or fines from ₱20,000 to ₱100,000
• With property damage or injury: 2 to 4 years imprisonment, or fines from ₱100,000 to ₱200,000
• Serious injury or death: prosecution under the Revised Penal Code, with maximum penalties plus fines up to ₱500,000

On top of that, offenders may be required to undergo anger management training with the MMDA and PNP.

Why this matters to us

Let’s be real: Metro Manila traffic is already a daily test of patience. Add unchecked road rage into the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. Viral videos of motorists pulling guns, blocking lanes, or physically assaulting each other have become disturbingly common. Instead of serving as cautionary tales, these clips often normalize intimidation, sometimes even encouraging copycat behavior.

This bill aims to break that cycle by making road rage a criminal offense, not just a traffic violation. That distinction matters. It means offenders won’t just pay a fine and drive off — they could lose their license, face jail time, and even be perpetually disqualified from owning a firearm if one is involved.

When tempers drive

The timing of the bill is notable. It comes on the heels of allegations of a road rage incident along NLEX involving Bulacan Governor Dan Fernando’s convoy and a presidential son (and Sandro’s brother), allegedly Vinny Marcos — a claim denied by Malacañang but still under investigation by the Land Transportation Office.

Whether or not that incident proves true, the fact remains: we are fed up with feeling unsafe on the road. Road rage isn’t just about bruised egos — it’s about lives put at risk in an already chaotic traffic environment.

This measure is both punitive and corrective, and that balance is crucial. Punishment alone won’t change behavior, but pairing it with anger management training could help drivers confront the root of their aggression. 

Still, enforcement will be the real test. Will traffic enforcers and police have the training and consistency to apply this law fairly? Or will it end up as another regulation that looks good on paper but gets lost in implementation?

For now, HB 8190 sends a strong message: intimidation has no place on Philippine roads. And maybe, just maybe, it will make drivers think twice before letting their temper take the wheel.

Do you think criminalizing road rage will finally make our streets safer, or will it just be another law waiting to be ignored?

(Image: House of Representatives of the Philippines | Facebook)