MMDA to post photos of overspeeding cars on website

Monday, April 11, 2011

PHOTOS of vehicles violating the speed limit along the Philippines' "killer highway" will soon be posted on the website of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the agency said on Monday.

Putting these pictures on the MMDA's website will show that it means business in reminding the motoring public to obey the 60-kilometer-per-hour speed limit along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, considered as the Philippines' deadliest.

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"Our campaign against speedsters will have no let-up. We will continue going after violators for the protection and safety of the public, specifically the pedestrians and commuters," MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said.

The MMDA has no difficulty posting the photos of overspeeding motorists since images of the vehicles of violators are easily captured on camera and will be issued traffic violation receipts through the agency’s No Physical Contact Apprehension policy.

Since the implementation of the speed limit along Commonwealth Avenue January, a significant reduction in fatalities and major vehicular accidents in the thoroughfare has been reported.

The agency’s Road Safety Unit showed that from January to December last year, 21 died in accidents at the said highway while 608 sustained serious and minor injuries and 2,114 accidents resulting to damage to property for a total of 2,743 accidents.

The records also showed that majority of the accidents, 1,801 or 65. 66 percent occurred during the daytime, with the MMDA saying this was due to the huge volume of vehicles plying the highway, and 942 or 34.34 percent taking place during nighttime.

To date, more than 7,000 were caught on camera and have been sent summons for overspeeding, Tolentino said.

Tolentino said the agency is also considering implementing the speed limit along Roxas Boulevard, Macapagal Boulevard, and Osmeña Highway.

“Our traffic experts are conducting thorough studies on the viability of imposing a speed limit along the three other major roads. We are trying to find the best possible solutions to further improve traffic conditions in Metro Manila,” Tolentino said. (AH/Sunnex)