Photo credit: LTO

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has directed the strict implementation of speed limits and other road safety measures along all expressways, following the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. to intensify road safety efforts.

According to a statement from the LTO, the move was made under the guidance of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon. It includes increasing the visibility of deputized enforcers and ensuring faster responses to violations such as over-speeding.

In a meeting held on May 6 with expressway managers at the LTO Central Office in Quezon City, LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II emphasized the role of enforcement visibility.

“The presence alone of even the expressway enforcers compel motorists to behave. Kung mabilis, magmemenor ang mga yan kapag nakakita ng sasakyan ng enforcers along the expressways,” Mendoza said.

He cited both public feedback and personal observations about the limited visibility of enforcers along certain sections of expressways.

Mendoza also raised concerns about current practices in addressing overspeeding violations. “In the case of over speeding, kapag na-monitor na may over speeding through speed gun. Ang sistema na nakita ko ay aabangan kung saan mag-e-exit at dun huhulihin,” he said. “Paano kung in between kung saan yung overspeeding unang namonitor at sa exit point ay naaksidente at nakapang-damay pa ng ibang sasakyan? Paano ngayon yun?”

To address this, Mendoza called for more proactive and real-time enforcement. “So we need to be proactive and quick in our response. Right there and then, gumawa na nga mga efforts na hulihin na agad para maiwasan na ang aksidente,” he said.

Citing data from the Philippine National Police–Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), Mendoza noted that over 13% of the 31,000 road accidents reported in 2024 took place on expressways. He added that most of these expressway accidents were fatal.

“We really need to do more. As our deputized enforcers, you share our obligation, our mandate to ensure safety of motorists and all the people using expressways at all times,” Mendoza said. — ABN