On the first day of its implementation of higher penalties, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) caught over 300 motorists violating the exclusive bus lane rule along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA).
As of 11 a.m. Monday, MMDA traffic enforcers issued citation tickets to 333 vehicles that used the exclusive lanes for public utility buses, ambulances, and marked government vehicles responding to emergencies.
Most of the violators were apprehended on the northbound lanes of Cubao in Quezon City and Tramo in Pasay City, along the southbound lane in Main Avenue, also in Quezon City, Shaw Boulevard and SM Megamall, both in Mandaluyong City and Magallanes in Makati City.
Meanwhile, Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Vigor Mendoza II on Monday warned the agency would suspend the driver’s license of any motorist evading traffic enforcers who would flag them down for traffic violations, especially for illegal use of the EDSA bus lane.
He met with MMDA chairman Don Artes yesterday during the first day of implementation of the higher penalties for the unauthorized use of the bus lane.
“Our driver’s license is a privilege given by the government. It comes with responsibility and obligation that includes respecting traffic laws to ensure road safety, and respecting the people who enforce them,” Mendoza said.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista wants to ensure discipline among motorists to ensure the safety of all road users, he added.
Since January this year, more than 11,900 motorists have been apprehended violating the EDSA bus lane policy, with the largest apprehensions in July at 4,395.
The Metro Manila Council, the MMDA’s governing board and policy-making body, issued the resolution increasing the penalties for motorists encroaching into the exclusive bus lanes or bus carousel lanes along EDSA.
The MMC is composed of the 17 mayors in the National Capital Region
The MMDA noted that private vehicles repeatedly disregarded the rules.
The increased fines for the violators are P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 for the second offense, plus one-month suspension of driver’s license and requirement to undergo a road safety seminar; P20,000 plus one-year suspension of driver’s license for the third offense, and P30,000 plus recommendation to Land Transportation Office for revocation of driver’s license for the fourth offense.
MMDA chairman Romando Artes said they came up with the stiffer penalty to serve as a deterrent for errant drivers of private vehicles, motorcycle riders, and other motor vehicles who repeatedly violate the exclusive bus lane despite consisted warnings and reminders.
“The increase in fines for those who violate the EDSA bus lane is for the safety of motorists and to avoid delaying the flight of authorized city buses that cross the exclusive lane,” Artes explained.
“Violators are mostly private cars of rich people,” he added.
