All Saints’ Day advisory to motorists: Leave early

Operators of the 83-km North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) urged motorists on a break for the long All Saints’ Day holiday to take morning trips to ease traffic that is expected to build up starting today (Thursday) until Sunday.

In a news briefing on Wednesday, Ramoncito Fernandez, president and chief executive officer of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., said NLEx serves 155,000 to 158,000 motorists each day but the All Saints’ Day rush is expected to increase traffic volume to 170,000 vehicles.

The officials also encouraged motorists to take enough rest before embarking on the long drive.

Rodrigo Franco, president and CEO of  Manila North Tollways Corp., said motorists rarely venture through NLEx except during vacation so many could be unfamiliar with the expressway’s driving conditions.

Benigno Valles, senior manager for corporate communications of Tollways Management Corp. which maintains the NLEx, said 70 percent of vehicular accidents on the highway were attributed to driver errors.

“We encourage [holiday motorists] to check their tires, their brakes for safety and to take enough rest and sleep first before taking the expressway,” Valles said.

He also said regular checks online for the NLEx hourly posting of traffic situation on the expressway could help motorists decide what time to travel.

Fernandez said NLEx will activate its automatic vehicle locator system, which allows motorists to detect and seek out NLEx’s 43 patrol cars when they need assistance.

These patrol cars are equipped with global positioning system (GPS) gadgets. Fernandez said the patrol cars are capable of responding to an emergency or accident in 10 minutes.