The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has mobilized around 1,700 of its enforcers nationwide to monitor major thoroughfares and enforce the law against reckless drivers, including those who would engage in road racing, as the number of vehicles are expected to hit the roads for the Holy Week break.
At the same time, LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II said they have coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies to at least inform the agency of any reckless drivers they would encounter while deployed on major thoroughfares for immediate action.
“All our enforcers are deployed in major thoroughfares to at least serve as a deterrent against reckless driving. This is part of the instruction of our DOTr Secretary Vince B. Dizon since the presence alone of uniformed LTO personnel will compel errant drivers to behave,” said Asec Mendoza.
“But for those hard-headed motorists, we will surely run after you. Matakasan mo man ang mga enforcers dahil mabilis kang magmaneho, our enforcers already know what to do on those kind of situations para matiyak na mapanagot ka sa pagiging kamote sa kalsada,” he added.
While the main instruction is to assist motorists in ensuring safe land travels, Asec Mendoza said LTO enforcers have a special instruction to monitor and document reckless drivers for the entire Holy Week break— or until the travelers return to their respective workplaces after the long weekend.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. earlier advised motorists to be calm and always take into consideration the welfare of the family amid the presence of “kamote motorists” on the roads.
Secretary Dizon, on the other hand, tasked the LTO and the LTFRB to initiate all measures to prevent dangerous reckless driving and run after those who would dare to do so.
On Tuesday, April 15, Asec Mendoza revealed that they already initiate legal measures against the registered owners and drivers of two passenger buses— the one that figured in an accident on NLEX and the other one was that in the viral video of overspeeding video wherein the passengers were begging the driver to slow down.
He said they have now formulated mechanisms to strengthen accountability of errant drivers as he echoed President Marcos statement that having a driver’s license is not a right but a privilege.
And he emphasized that the LTO action against erring drivers is now faster: “HIndi po puwede kay Secretary Dizon ang mabagal. Kaya talagang mabilis ang aksyon natin sa mga reckless drivers na ito without compromising their right to due process.”
“Hindi po tayo nagkulang sa pagpapa-alala about road safety at nasa upgrading na po tayo ng ating action plan laban sa mga abusadong driver at yun ay sa pamamagitan ng certainty na mahuhuli at mapaparusahan sila,” said Asec Mendoza.
Asec Mendoza then urged netizens to continue calling out errant motorists as he emphasized that the LTO has a special team of social media monitoring against abusive and errant motorists.
This is the reason behind the fact that the LTO issues at least two show cause orders a week on erring motorists, according to Asec Mendoza.
“Magtulungan po tayo dahil ang road safety ay responsibilida ng bawat isa. We appeal to the public, especially the netizens, not to get tired of being vigilant against reckless drivers because who knows, you may unknowingly save a friend or a relative in doing so,” said Asec Mendoza.
“Ire-port niyo lang po sa amin and we will take care of the rest, including ensuring that your privacy is protected,” he added.
The LTO maintains social media accounts and “AksyON THE SPOT 09292920865”.