By Bea Rollo
(May 5, 2025) — Amid a worrying rise in road accidents across the country, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced a series of stringent measures aimed at enhancing road safety, following Pres. Bongbong Marcos’ directive to overhaul the country’s traffic enforcement system.
Transportation Sec. Vince Dizon ordered new policies during a press briefing on Monday, stressing the urgency to restore public trust and ensure justice for victims, including children, who have died in recent vehicular crashes.
Among the key measures are mandatory and regular drug testing for all public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and stricter implementation of roadworthiness checks for all vehicles.
ALSO READ: DOTr chief to order mandatory drug test for all PUV drivers
Dizon has also requested the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to revise the maximum consecutive driving hours for public utility bus (PUB) drivers.
From the current six hours, Dizon proposes reducing it to four, aligning with international standards to enhance road safety.
He also recommended assigning a relief driver—separate from the conductor—for trips exceeding four hours to prevent driver fatigue and reduce accidents.
Dizon has further emphasized the importance of swift and decisive action to hold violators accountable and ensure public safety following another order to LTO to automatically suspend the licenses of abusive motorists caught on video.
He also voiced support for the creation of a Public Transport Safety Board, envisioned to serve as an independent body to investigate road incidents and recommend preventive actions.
“We must get these families justice and the justice that they deserve. Kung akala niyo nagbibiro kami, nagkakamali kayo. Seseryosohin at totohanin na natin ito,” Dizon said, noting that the recent spate of deadly crashes exposes systemic flaws that must be urgently addressed.
“Wala na ‘yung dating sistema because obviously, the system is broken. Buhay ito eh. Lives are at stake. We need to make the people feel safe on our roads again,” he added.
The DOTr’s push comes amid a series of road incidents, including the tragedy at the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) on May 1 and the car crash at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Sunday, May 4, which killed a 5-year-old girl on the spot.
With these enhanced road safety initiatives, the government aims to prevent further tragedies and make road travel safer for all Filipinos.
(AAD)
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