A dose of safe driving, from point A to B

IF THERE'S one thing the

recent rash of bombings--and

bomb scares--has brought out

among motorists and commuters in Metro Manila, it

must be the increased level of paranoia that not

only the combustion engines of their vehicles will

ignite when the keys are turned.

Motorists who cruise the urban roads and use

crowded parking lots, and commuters who have to

sit through traffic in a bus, the MRT or a jeepney

for hours on end, can lead the way in saving lives,

or at least ease tensions during these uncertain

times.

The Philippine National Police has released a few

bomb detection indicators. Commuters and

motorists are advised to be on the lookout for

unattended baggage, bags, boxes and

parcels--whether these may be found in the

parking lot or in a public vehicle. Small items don't

necessarily have to be overlooked. Tightly wrapped

and compact packages, envelopes or wrapping

with oily stains and ticking sounds can be telltale

signs of an explosive device.

In any event, finders should never move, touch or

even attempt to open these unattended envelopes

or packages.

People should also watch out for oily stains, and

the smell of gasoline or diesel in the vicinity of a

vehicle. A military general, who requested

anonymity, said a homemade bomb known as the

Molotov contains highly-flammable gases.

It is also said that improvised time bombs are

equipped with a timing device or recorder that

would give ample time for the terrorist to escape.

Commuters should observe knapsack-carrying

persons, who act uneasily and unusually check

their wristwatches too frequently. The giveaway

comes when they abruptly disembark in

intersections leaving their bags or knapsacks

behind.

For car-owners and drivers who leave their

vehicles on parking lots for any length of time, it

could help to install safety and alarm devices on

the vehicle. They should also scan the area for

suspicious-looking people before leaving the

vehicle. When parking on public parking areas at

night, motorists should make sure that the area is

well-lit. This was advised by Daisy Jacobo, Land

Transportation Authority's traffic education chief.

Evacuate a vehicle immediately when you suspect

a bomb has been planted on your vehicle. Make

sure that you, your passengers and other

passersby are at least 300 feet away from the

suspected bomb, said police chief superintendent

Ricardo de Leon of the Firearms and Explosives

division.

Commuters and drivers should call the police right

away for assistance so the area can be secured by

police. The explosive and ordinance disposal units

(EOD) in Metro Manila and their telephone numbers

are EOD Camp Crame, 721-8544, 723-0411 local

4514; Northern Police District, 287-3504; Eastern

Police District, 642-8136, 641-0877; Western

Police District, 523-1251; Southern Police District,

818-2078; and Central Police District, 924-3101.

After parking the car at home, owners should make

sure that garage gates will be locked at all times.

And when hiring a driver, the employer should

personally check on the applicant's background,

aside from the usual clearances.

''In effect it (a bomb scare) is a curtailment of

your freedom to move, which is a violation of your

constitutional right to travel. It is a paralysis in a

sense that it prevents you from going out of the

house,'' Jacobo said.

Since bomb scares cause fear, the best antidote,

said Jacobo, is to control the fear itself. More than

the physical devastation an actual explosion can

cause on our bodies and properties, the social

terror and paralysis among the population may

probably be the greatest damage a bomb scare

can sow.