People cross a pedestrian lane in front of Fiesta Carnival at Araneta City in Cubao, Quezon City on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — The Land Transportation Office's (LTO) September 29 memorandum imposing stricter sanctions on motorists involved in incidents on pedestrian lanes officially took effect on Monday, October 5.
The LTO said its guidelines shall be strictly observed in handling pedestrian cases.
For cases that resulted in death, the driver's license will be perpetually revoked. Incidents that cause injury meanwhile will result in a one-year revocation, among others.
According to LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao, fines for violators, especially motorists involved in deadly pedestrian-car crash is not enough.
“Ang nangyayari kasi, nagiging fines lang karaniwan eh tapos ang natatanggalan namin ng lisensiya, yung mga nakapatay o nakasagasa. Although, nare-revoke namin noon yan - pagkanakapatay lang. Pero ngayon, ang isang tao na nasagasaan at hindi namatay, pag may kapabayaan sa driver, ire-revoke na namin yun,” Lacanilao told ABS-CBN News.
“Hindi lang po namatay, kung ang pedestrian ay binangga, siya po ay nasugatan, yun ay ground na po para siya po ay tuluyan nang ma-revoke ang kanyang driver’s license,” Lacanilao added.
Lacanilao said motorists can still file an appeal to LTO before it issues a final resolution on a case.
“Pagbabasehan po sa magiging resolusyon niyan…halimbawa, nakabangga nga siya pero hindi niya napatay, nasugatan niya pero na-found out namin siya pala ay nakainom o may negligence sa part niya eh baka mag-perpetual revocation pa siya,” said Lacanilao.
The LTO chief explained some motorists do not respect pedestrian crossing and continue to violate the law.
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“Dahil mayaman sila - okay lang, bayaran na lang yung fines and penalties…wala silang pakialam eh. Eh sa ngayon, pagka-na-involved ka sa mga pangyayaring ganyan, kahit nasugatan mo lang yung taong natamaan mo…ire-revoke namin yung driver’s license,” Lacanilao said.
Automobile Association of the Philippines president Joe Ferreria meantime supports the LTO’s move, saying it’s time to take this issue seriously.
“One life lost is too many lives lost…tama yung pananaw ni LTO chief…kasi alam mo yung impact don sa nasagasaan at napatay mo - hindi lang don sa namatay…nasa langit na yun eh. Yung multiple effect niyan…yung pamilya, makakapag-aral ba yung mga anak niyan at tsaka yung gastos sa ospital at sementeryo. So yung mga taong nakakamatay sa pedestrian lane eh dapat yan, talagang tanggalan o ng lisensiya, kasi baka makapatay pa uli,” according to Ferreria.
Ferreria however clarified that penalties or sanctions should vary depending on the gravity of the offense of the motorist involved.
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