Stricter road safety rules in QC to start next year

In an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), Quezon City District 2 Councilor Ranulfo Ludovica on Monday said the ordinance, which was signed last November, would be implemented within 30 days in the city. (Photo: http://quezoncitycouncil.ph)

MANILA — The local government of Quezon City is expecting a reduction in the number of road crashes in the city with the implementation of the new Quezon City Rode Safety Code early next year.

In an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), Quezon City District 2 Councilor Ranulfo Ludovica on Monday said the ordinance, which was signed last November, would  be implemented within 30 days in the city.

“Karamihan naman dyan mga amendment ng mga dating traffic code ng Quezon City” (Most of them are amendments of the previous Quezon City traffic code), Ludovica said.

He explained that the city’s old traffic codes and other related ordinances were consolidated in the new road safety ordinance which would serve as a “bible” for the rules and regulations of motorists.

Ludovica added that the code also incorporated ordinances pertaining to clearing operations on sidewalks, and obstructions as well as traffic code of the country.

The new road safety code imposes a speed limit and puts more attention for checking roadworthiness of vehicles to help prevent road crashes.

The following speed limits are assigned to some of the city’s main roads:

“Dito nababago ang speed limit…may mga naadjust dyan na speed limit na dati 60, 50. Mayroon ng 40 naadjust,” Ludovica said.

(There had been changes in speed limits here. There were adjustments from previous speed limits 60, 50, while another had been adjusted to 40.)

“Actually yung highway designed for speed talaga yan e. Pero due to lack of discipline ng mga motorists, maging motorcycle driver ka man, truck driver ka man, maging regular driver ka man, kotse or SUV. What is lacking is discipline pa rin,” Ludovica added, reacting to concerns aired by motorcycle riders that measures aimed at reducing speed limits only invite more road accidents.

(Actually, the highway is really designed for speed. But due to motorists’ lack of discipline, whether you’re a motorcycle driver, or a truck driver, or even a regular car or SUV driver, there’s still lack of discipline.)

Ludovica added that the new ordinance had also provided provisions on engineering designs and interventions and signages, and other measures seeking to address problems on road accidents.

A ‘3-strike-rule’ would be enforced, revoking the franchise of tricycle and pedicab drivers who would commit three violations within three years.

Other salient provisions of the road safety code include a standardized system of reporting for those with complaints; checkpoint to avoid drunk and drugged driving; and penalties ranging from P2,000 to P3,500 to traffic offenders.

Ordinance No. SP 2636 series of 2017, otherwise known as “An Ordinance Adopting the Road Safety Code of Quezon City,” has been signed into law by Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista last November 27.

The ordinance cited a report from the  Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analyses System (MMARAS) of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), where Quezon City had the highest number of road crashes and road crash fatalities consistently and injuries in Metro Manila from 2011 to 2016.

In 2016 alone, Quezon City accounted for 33,717 road crashes with 116 fatalities contributing to about 27% to the total number of fatal road crashes in Metro Manila as recorded by MMDA.(PNA)