A funeral vehicle—no, not a hearse—was caught on the EDSA Busway

“Say what now? A funeral vehicle on the EDSA Busway?”

We had the same reaction when we read what the Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation’s (SAICT) posted on Facebook. As it turned out, thank goodness, that it was just a van caught on the exclusive bus lane and not a hearse. It would’ve elicited all sorts of reactions had it been the latter.

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PHOTO BY SAICT on Facebook

Of course, that still doesn’t make any of this okay. The van was still illegally on the busway, and to make matters worse, authorities even discovered that the vehicle’s registration had already expired. And that its tires were already bald. So many red flags in one apprehension, huh?

This again adds to our growing list of interesting EDSA Busway finds. We hope we won’t ever have the chance to add a hearse to this list. Heck, if only we won’t ever need to add anything at all. EDSA Busway fines aren’t cheap, you know—and if you don’t, you can read more on that here.

So yes, motorists, just please stop misusing the busway. It’s dangerous, the fines are expensive, and there’s a chance you’ll go viral on social media for all the wrong reasons. We wouldn’t want to have to deal with any or all of those, would we? And in case you need another reminder, we’ll enumerate below the only vehicles allowed on the EDSA Busway, as well as the corresponding fines for violators.

Vehicles authorized to use the EDSA Busway:

1. Buses authorized by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for the EDSA Busway route
2. On-duty ambulances, firetrucks, and Philippine National Police vehicles
3. Service vehicles performing their duties for the EDSA Busway Project, including but not limited to construction, security, janitorial, and maintenance services
4. Convoy of the President
5. Convoy of the Vice President
6. Convoy of the Senate President
7. Convoy of the Speaker of the House of Representatives
8. Convoy of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

EDSA Busway higher fines effective November 13

1. First offense – P5,000
2. Second offense – P10,000, plus one-month suspension of driver’s license and mandatory road safety seminar
3. Third offense – P20,000, plus one-year suspension of driver’s license (also given to violators who try to escape apprehension)
4. Fourth offense – P30,000, plus possible revocation of driver’s license