Solon wants speed limiter for public utility vehicles
Printer-Friendly VersionPublic utility vehicles (PUVs) will soon be equipped with speed-limiting devices if Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV gets his way after filing Senate Bill No. 2790 or the proposed "Speed Limiters Act of 2011."
According to Trillanes, installing speed limiting devices on PUVs would help reduce fatal speed-related accidents, which have reportedly risen over the years.
"Considering that 78 percent of the population rely on buses, jeepneys, taxis, trains and tricyles for mobility, and 44 percent of road accidents caused by speeding, that is really quite alarming," Trillanes shared.
The solon cited the dramatic reduction of road accidents along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City shortly after the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) imposed a 60kph speed limit on what was once known as the "killer highway." Trillanes added that installing on-board speed-limiting devices on PUVs would duplicate the success of the MMDA's program not only in Metro Manila but nationwide.
"It is hoped that by enforcing strict compliance with the mandated speed limits in various streets, highways and thoroughfares, vehicular accidents caused by speeding is reduced and that lives will be saved," said Trillanes.
Under the bill, PUV operators and owners will shoulder the cost of the speed-limiting devices while the Department of Transportation and Communication will be tasked to supervise and inspect the installation of the devices "to comply with speed limits corresponding to the maximum allowed in the route plied by a particular PUV."
The bill also instructs the Land Transportation Office that no PUV shall be registered with the agency without having a properly calibrated speed-limiting device installed.
If passed into law, a P30,000 fine and a jail term of up to three years await those who will be found to have tampered with a duly installed and set speed limiter. But do you think these penalties are enough?
