Davao City mayor limits vehicles to maximum speed of 60 kph

MAYOR Rodrigo Dutert. BING GONZALES/ INQUIRER MINDANAO FILE PHOTO

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte says his order limiting the speed of motor vehicles to 30 kilometers per hour in the downtown area and to 60 kph on the highways is to stay to reduce accidents and p[rotect people’s lives.

“For as long as people’s lives are in jeopardy, the law stays,” Duterte said, replying to complaints that an executive order he issued last October 29 imposing speed limits on Davao City roads had literally slowed down life and business in the city.

“Slow motion muna ang buhay in Davao,” Duterte said on his television program “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa,” on Sunday. “I like it because it has reduced the number of accidents in the city and we are doing it for the interest of public safety.”

He cited statistics showing that the number of traffic accidents in the city has gone down 10 per cent since the order was implemented last November.  A total of 292 drivers have been apprehended for violating the speed limit.

The mayor renewed a warning to abusive and reckless drivers, saying they were cheapening the lives of people in the city.

“You’re acting as if you own the highways, you only cheapen the lives of people in this city,” he said.

He also told workers who complain of  delays on the road to think about the safety of people on the road.

“How much would you get if you arrive in your workplace 40 minutes earlier?” he said. “But if you go slow, you save the lives of your fellowmen, are you not happy with that?”