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[av_heading heading=’ EDITORIAL | Road warriors’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Thursday, March 30, 2017
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ARE 46 Land Transportation Office-deputized policemen enough to instill discipline on Iloilo’s roads and prevent vehicular accidents? With the constant road mishaps, the culture of carelessness among drivers is evident. We can’t help but seek for the best deterrents.
One of these is ensuring the certainty of punishment to ill-disciplined drivers, and these 46 policemen can start by apprehending them. No excuses. The 46, however, may not be enough. These translate to roughly one LTO-deputized cop for each town (Iloilo has 42 towns and one component city.)
Still, we count on these cops and LTO to be proactive. And we don’t just mean confiscating drivers’ licenses and issuing temporary operator’s permits. They can do more. For instance, instead of waiting for drivers to commit violations and fining them for it, the police and LTO should institute steps to prevent drivers from even contemplating violating traffic laws in the first place. One way to do this is to increase visibility at all times, especially at night when the possibility of an accident is greater. Some even suggest the use of cameras in areas where traffic is heavier to monitor actual violations by drivers.
LTO can do better. Drive around. Almost certainly, in most parts of the Philippines, the condition of many roads is really bad. It is also a fact that many streets and highways are poorly lit, and this makes driving quite difficult. Some accidents are caused by vehicles breaking down. The authorities must see to it that every vehicle is road-worthy.
Public transport drivers have complained about the habit of some traffic authorities to lurk in the shadows and wait for drivers to commit violations before pouncing on them. These unscrupulous traffic enforcers are only after making a fast buck.
Traffic signs should also be more visible and drivers must be required to attend seminars on road safety upon renewal of their licenses, or if they are found to have been responsible for accidents.
The safety of pedestrians and passengers is paramount.
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