AUG.

17, 2012

NR # 2834

Mandatory installation of speed limiters on all public utility buses sought

Alarmed by reports on the rising number of deaths and injuries involving bus accidents all over the country, lawmakers have proposed the mandatory installation of speed limiters on all public utility buses (PUBs). Reps. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City) and Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao) , authors of House Bill 6395, said installing speed limiters is one way to address vehicular accidents. One way to decrease these accidents is to limit the speed of these buses by installing speed limiters, Rodriguez said. Rodriguez said the speed limiters will be attached to the engines and transmissions of buses, which will limit the maximum speed of the vehicles. Under the measure, all bus companies operating in the Philippines are mandated to install speed limiters on their buses which would limit the maximum speed of these buses to 40 kilometers per hour for public utility buses plying Metro Manila routes and 60 kilometers per hour for those plying provincial routes. Citing a study of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Rodriguez said there have been 395 victims of bus accidents, 74 deaths, 300 injuries and 20 cases of damage to properties in 2011. All these accidents happen because these PUBs drive all over the country as if they are in a race, always speeding and changing lanes without any concern for their fellow motorists, Rodriguez stressed. Rodriguez said the data from the LTRFB show that there are around 4,000 buses plying Metro Manila routes while there are around 7,000 provincial buses. It has been very common for Filipinos to read in newspapers or see on TV reports regarding accidents involving public utility buses, Rodriguez said. The bill provides that the companies themselves shall purchase and install these speed limiters and shall be subject to regular inspection by the Land Transportation and Regulatory Board (LTRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO). Furthermore, registration, renewal and approval of franchises of these buses shall only be allowed unless speed limiters are installed. The bill directs the LTFRB and the LTO to promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to properly implement the Act. Violators caught tampering with these speed limiters will be fined with P100,000 or penalized with 5 years imprisonment. Also, the bus shall be impounded and the bus company involved shall be suspended for 30 days. (30) lvc