Let’s start with a number that’s supposed to impress you: 99.999% incident-free rides.

That’s what Move It proudly declared in a new press release—a stat that’s basically saying that the brand’s motorcycle taxi platform is safer than your toaster. It’s part of the company’s new “Driver-Led, Tech-Reinforced Safety Commitment,” a bold push to professionalize the industry and tighten safety protocols.

Predictably, rival platform Angkas fired shots on social media, mocking the near-perfect safety record. The tone was sarcastic, and the subtext was loud: Nice try, but we’re not buying it.

To be fair, Move It’s announcement wasn’t all fluff. The team has some serious safety features in play: real-time speeding alerts, fatigue monitoring, audio trip recording, and even behavioral assessments developed with the Ateneo Bulatao Center. The “Pasado Bago Pasada” system enforces government clearances, bike inspections, and retraining every six months.

Here’s the inconvenient truth: No matter how advanced your safety stack is, the ride quality on the ground doesn’t always match the story. Rider discipline on road is a work in progress.

Riding a motorcycle is never going to be “99.999% safe.” Not because riders are reckless, but because the roads themselves are dangerous. Potholes, erratic jeepneys, jaywalkers, and sudden downpours all conspire to make every ride a potential risk. And don’t get us started with “fixers” of driver’s license.

The real joke? Metro Manila’s broken public transport system, which has forced us to rely on motorcycle taxis just to survive the daily grind.

Angkas and Move It can bicker all day. But commuters are simply trying to arrive safely at work as early as possible.

Instead of mocking each other, maybe it’s time for both platforms—and government—to actually legalize and standardize motorcycle taxi operations. If we’re going to be part of the ecosystem, we might as well establish real safeguards that also protect motorcycle taxi’s general welfare.

Move It’s safety push is commendable. The tech upgrades and the rider training are steps in the right direction.

While the petty PR stunts are funny, maybe it’s time both industry and government become 99.999% serious about regulation, raise the minimum standard across all platforms, and finally treat commuters like they deserve better.

On a separate note, Move It actually recorded the highest number of motorcycle taxi misfortunes last year, based on data from the PNP-HPG presented to Congress. From 2024 to 2025, Move It has figured in 476 incidents (35.2%) involving motorcycle taxis/delivery rides—outpacing Grab (293), JoyRide (240), Angkas (236) and Lalamove (208). Lawmakers flagged the rising numbers as a growing safety concern.