Trillanes wants speed-limiting devices for PUVs to reduce road accidents

Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV has filed a bill that would require on-board speed-limiting devices for all public utility vehicles (PUVs) to cut the number of deaths and injuries on the roads due to speeding.

Trillanes strongly believed that legislation obliging operators of PUVs to have a speed-limiting device fitted in their vehicles would help reduce speed-related fatal accidents, the number of which has been rising over the years.

"Considering that 78 percent of the population rely on buses, jeepneys, taxis, trains and tricyles for mobility, and 44 percent of road accidents caused by speeding, that is really quite alarming," Trillanes pointed out.

The young legislator also cited reports from World Health Organization (WHO) that 2.4 million fatalities occur annually because of road accidents. Local studies reveal that in Manila alone, almost 50 road accidents occur every day, Trillanes added.

In introducing Senate Bill No. 2790 or the proposed "Speed Limiters Act of 2011," Trillanes said speed-limiting devices could help save lives since it would limit the speed on PUVs, which are most likely to break speed limits on fast roads.

"It is hoped that by enforcing strict compliance with the mandated speed limits in various streets, highways and thoroughfares, vehicular accidents caused by speeding is reduced and that lives will be saved," Trillanes stressed.

Trillanes cited the dramatic reduction of road accidents along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City ever since the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) imposed its 60 kilometer per hour speed limit on the 12.4 kilometers thoroughfare. Commonwealth Avenue previously gained notoriety as a "killer highway" because of the great number of fatal accidents taking place on the said road almost every week. The Senator believes installing on-board speed-limiting devices on PUVs would be a step towards the right direction to duplicate this experience not only in Metro Manila but nationwide.

Under Trillanes' bill, PUVs will be required to bear the cost of the speed-limiting devices.

The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) will be tasked to supervise and inspect the setting up of speed-limiting devices to comply with speed limits corresponding to the maximum allowed in the route plied by a particular PUV.

The agency will also be authorized to subsidize "deserving" PUV owners in the procurement and installation of on-board speed-limiting devices.

Trillanes' bill provides that "no PUV shall be registered by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) without a properly calibrated speed-limiting device installed."

A fine of P30, 000 and a jail term of up to three years shall be imposed upon those who will be found to have tampered with a duly installed and set speed limiter, the bill stated.

DOTC, in coordination with the LTO and the Land Transportation Franchise Regulatory Board, will be assigned to formulate the guidelines, rules and regulations of the implementing provisions of the proposed measure.