MANILA, Philippines — Due to the recent incidents of road rage, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is now considering adding more questions to the driver’s license examination, its Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II said in a statement.
“We consulted HPG [Highway Patrol Group] also on this. We’ll continue dito sa issue ng mga road rage incidents. There might be some questions na dapat naming tanungin na hindi namin tinatanong. That would give us an indication kung kailangang bigyan ng lisensya ang isang tao o hindi,” Mendoza said over a People’s Television Network (PTV) report shared by LTO on Tuesday.
(We consulted the HPG on this and we’ll continue with the issue of road rage incidents. There might be questions that need to be asked which we are not asking right now. That would give us an indication of whether someone should get a license or not.)
Mendoza further clarified that the said move of adding more questions in the exam is still being studied.
“At this stage, this is all in the study level pa lang. Wala pang finality ‘to kasi ayaw rin naman nating na napakahaba ng exam,” he added.
(There is no finality yet as we also don’t want a very long exam.)
A strategic planning conference has been reportedly set to discuss LTO’s additional requirements for obtaining a driver’s license. This includes random tests where questions will be based on the car or motorcycle an applicant drives.
According to the report, the change in the driver’s license exam is targeted to be implemented by the end of this year.
It also mentioned that the LTO is looking into the possibility of creating new and heavier penalties for road rage incidents.
Currently, the penalty for individuals involved in road rage incidents that caused death or injury is 4 years of suspension or revocation of driver’s license.
Last August 19, a sports utility vehicle driver confronted a taxi driver with a firearm in Valenzuela City.
Also, on August 8, a retired policeman brandished his gun at a cyclist in Quezon City — a case that reached the Senate.
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