WITH more accidents happening in the city every day, the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) wants to impose higher penalties for traffic violations.
To do that, Cebu City Ordinance (CO) 801 or the Traffic Code should be amended, said lawyer Rafael Christopher Yap, acting department head of CCTO.
“We are currently reviewing the penalties now to see which can be increased in order to deter violators,” Yap told Sun.Star Cebu.
CCTO has also requested the City Council to convene the committee on traffic.
Records from CCTO showed that in the last two days of September, a total of 119 vehicular accidents happened in the city.
Last Friday alone, there were 49 road accidents in the city in a matter of 10 hours.
In his Facebook account, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said road accidents are a major cause of traffic congestion in the city, prompting the City to deploy more traffic personnel on the streets, particularly in high-volume areas.
“Penalties will become more severe. The more drivers follow the law, the better traffic will be for everyone,” Osmeña said.
Yap said a high number of vehicles was usually observed in the South Road Properties, Banilad-Talamban area, Escario St., N. Bacalso, M.J. Cuenco Ave., Salinas Drive and Osmeña Blvd.
To address traffic congestion, Yap said, the CCTO is deploying more personnel on board the new vehicles the City Government has given them to help them respond faster.
Seven new Toyota Hi-lux pick-ups were recently turned over by the City to CCTO.
With more accidents happening on the roads, Yap said more violations are also recorded in their office daily.
Disregarding traffic signs is the most common violation drivers commit.
Cebu City’s Traffic Code dates back to 1973 but has been amended several times.
Aside from collecting higher penalties, continuing education on traffic policy and road discipline and courtesy should also be done, Yap said.
Since it is the Land Transportation Office’s mandate to educate drivers before giving them a license, Yap said that the CCTO can only educate drivers by apprehending them and conducting seminars for interested groups.