There should be more frequent random inspections of ambulances amid misuse of sirens, particularly during rush hour, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said on Friday.
According to Lacson, emergency vehicles that misuse sirens despite having no patients on board are not only disruptive but also pose risks to motorists and commuters.
“Drivers of vehicles with no emergency patients must be apprehended, their licenses revoked and charged, if warranted. Aside from being annoying, they can be traffic hazards,” he said.
The Department of Transportation’s Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation stopped an ambulance on Thursday for illegally using the EDSA Busway near Santolan Station during peak hours.
Investigators found the vehicle was operating as a shuttle service for individuals heading to medical checkups, with the ambulance interior revealing multiple passenger seats but no standard emergency equipment such as a stretcher and oxygen tank.
The driver admitted the vehicle was being used to transport patients for scheduled hospital visits.
Last year, Lacson proposed reversing the direction of buses along the EDSA Busway to deter unauthorized vehicles from exploiting the lane during heavy traffic.
He said the proposal could be paired with infrastructure adjustments that would allow commuters to disembark at a center island instead of the highway to reduce the risk of accidents.
