BAGUIO City Mayor Mauricio Domogan approved Ordinance No. 41 series of 2018 which regulates the use of major roads in the city by driving schools as teaching venue for practical driving lessons.
This is to avoid the danger to life and property posed by the business especially when allowed along major roads.
The measure prohibits the use for said purpose of roads within the Central Business District particularly the areas covered by the Baguio City Number Coding Scheme of Ordinance No. 5 series of 2003 for driving lesson purposes.
As defined in the ordinance, the areas within the number coding zone are those located within the perimeter of Naguilian Road from the junction of Bokawkan Road to the junction of Abanao Street - Abanao Street Extension of Yandoc Street - Yandoc Street - Legarda Road to the junction of Marcos Highway - Marcos Highway from the junction of Legarda Road to BGH Circle - Kennon Road from BGH Circle to the Junction of Military Cut-Off Road - Military Cut-Off Road to Military Circle - South Drive from Military Circle to Teacher’s Camp Road - M. Roxas Road to Trancoville Bridge - Bokawkan Road (including part of Magsaysay Avenue below the flyover) from the junction of La Trinidad Road and Trancoville Bridge to the Junction of Naguilian Road.
The ordinance also requires motor vehicles used for practical driving lessons to have painted signs on both sides showing the name of the driving school, its address and contact numbers along with a caution sign, "student driver" at the front and at the back of the car whenever being used for driving instruction, and such signs must be visible and readable up to a distance of ten meters.
The measure also mandates all applications who operate a driving school to comply with the rules, regulations, procedures and standards for the accreditation requirements of the Land Transportation Office pursuant to Section 5(q) of Executive Order 125-A, Series of 1987 [Amending Executive Order No. 125, entitled "Reorganizing the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Defining its Powers and Functions, and for other Purposes”].
Violators of the provisions of the ordinance face penalties of fines ranging from P500 to P5,000 and revocation of business permit.
“The use of major thoroughfares in the City of Baguio by driving schools in teaching driving lessons to student drivers may pose danger to life and property of drivers and motorists, commuters, and passers-by,” the measure notes.
“The slow paced driving of student drivers forces succeeding vehicles to likewise slow down, causing congestion and other traffic woes.”
South Drive, Leonard Wood Road, Outlook Drive Street, Loakan Road, and Happy Hallow-Kadaclan Circumferential Road are the major roads usually used by driving schools in conducting their lessons. Aileen Refuerzo