9,000 road accidents in early ’09

Drivers asked to follow traffic rules

MANILA, Philippines–Highway cops have noted more than 9,000 vehicular accidents for the first three months of 2009, prompting authorities to step up its campaign against erring drivers.

Data from the Philippine National Police’s Highway Patrol Group revealed that 9,279 vehicular accidents occurred from January to March alone, 3,000 of which were caused by overspeeding vehicles.

At the same time, the PNP noted that cars were most involved in road accidents with 3,698 cases, followed by motorcycles with 2,529 cases, while passenger buses placed third with 991 cases during the same period.

The latest accident involving two passenger buses in Lucena, Quezon killed nine and wounded 41 others.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said he has been instructed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to intensify the PNP’s campaign against drivers of overspeeding vehicles and other violators of traffic laws and regulations.

With this, Puno immediately directed Highway Patrol Group director Chief Supterintendent Orlando Mabutas to increase police visibility on national roads and other major thoroughfares and step up its crackdown against traffic violators.

Puno said Arroyo issued the directive during Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting in Sarangani province.

Puno appealed to motorists to follow the speed limit stated under Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code. According to the law, the speed limits in country roads are 80 kilometers per hour for cars and motorcycles and 50 kilometers per hour for trucks and buses; on boulevards clear of traffic with no blind corners, the limits are 40 kilometers per hour for cars and motorcycles and 30 kilometers per hour for trucks and buses .

On city and municipal streets with light traffic, the speed limit for cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses is 30 kilometers per hour.

For crowded streets approaching intersections at blind corners and passing school zones, the maximum allowable speeds are 30 kilometers per hour for cars and motorcycles and 20 kilometers per hour for trucks and buses. –By Abigail Kwok, INQUIRER.net