With the recent tragic accidents involving trucks and buses, the question most commuters ask is :When will the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) enforce Republic Act 10916, otherwise known as the Road Speed Limiter Act of 2016?
In accordance with RA 10916, the speed of trucks and passenger buses will be reduced from 60kph down to 50kph along major thoroughfares. Areas covered by the speed limit are EDSA, Commonwealth Avenue, Quirino Avenue, Roxas Boulevard, CP Garcia Avenue, Taft Avenue, South Luzon Expressway, Shaw Boulevard, Ortigas Avenue, Magsaysay Avenue, Rizal Avenue, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Marcos Highway and McArthur Highway.
According to the MMDA, vehicular accidents in major roads involving trucks and buses can be attributed to overspeeding.
Covered vehicles of the Speed Limiter Act are closed vans, hauler or cargo trailers, PUV, Shuttle Service, Tanker Trucks. The Speed Limiter is a device used to limit the top speed of a vehicle through the installation of a mechanical, electronic or communications system of the combination of these systems or similar devices performing the same function.
The Metro Manila Council, composed of Metro Manila Mayors and other officials recently approved the enforcement of the speed limiter act. However, full enforcement of the law will be next year because the resolution has yet to be signed by the Metro Manila Mayors. The MMDA will also have to coordinate with the LTO and the LTFRB regarding this matter.
The LTO and the MMDA is optimistic that with the enforcement of RA 10916 early next year will greatly decrease the incidents of accidents involving trucks and buses.
The dangers of surplus trucks and buses
The tragic accident in Tanay, Rizal involving a passeger bus, and a cargo truck in Marikina also raised the issue about the reliability of second hand bus and truck units.
Investigations into the Tanay crash raised serious questions about the actual age of the Panda Bus, which opened a can of worms revealing problems in the country’s vehicle registration process. Local officials admitted that the government lacks a fully functioning motor vehicle inspection system that would ensure the roadworthiness of trucks and buses.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1.2 million road traffic deaths occur every year globally. Road crashes are now the leading cause of deaths among young people aged 15 to 29. The University of the Philippines National Center for Transportation Studies (UPNCTS) released a study in 2014 that states bus passengers are six times more likely to be involved in a road crash than car passegers and five times more than the jeepneys, taxis and UV Express passengers.