9,000 erring motorists face suspension of driver’s license – MMDA

MANILA, Philippines — About 9,000 motorists in Metro Manila face suspension of their driver’s license due to repeat traffic violations, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said Tuesday.

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said the MMDA submitted a list of 10,000 drivers with repeat traffic violations to the Land Transportation Office last year and so far the LTO has only suspended about 1,000 in the list.

About nine thousand repeat offenders are yet to have their licenses suspended by the LTO.

“Definitely sususpendihin ang lisensiya nila. Hindi sila pwedeng magdrive,” he said in an online media forum.

In a meeting on Tuesday, transport agencies and law enforcement agencies have agreed to strengthen the enforcement of traffic rules and regulations in the metropolis.

This is to zero in on the common causes of accidents in the metro such as drunk driving, speeding over the limit and distracted driving.

According to MMDA, at least 31,811 accidents have been reported in Metro Manila from January to August this year, with 136 fatalities, 6,614 non-fatal, and 25,061 incurred damages to property.

At least 618 accidents occurred on EDSA this year, 509 resulted in damage to property while 105 barrier-related accidents were reported.

Authorities have agreed to intensify anti-drunk driving and anti-distracted driving operations in Metro Manila, suspend or revoke the driver’s license with multiple traffic violations, file charges, impose stiffer penalties, set up checkpoints during curfew hours, and conduct random breath analyzer tests on drivers. [ac]