LTO pushes for stricter speed limit enforcement on expressways

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is ramping up efforts to enforce speed limits and enhance road safety across expressways by deploying more deputized enforcers along critical routes.

LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II on Thursday stressed the importance of maintaining a strong and visible presence of traffic enforcers to discourage speeding and other dangerous driving behaviors.

“The presence alone of even the expressway enforcers compel motorists to behave. Kung mabilis, magmemenor ang mga yan kapag nakakita ng sasakyan ng enforcers along the expressways,” Mendoza said, underscoring how the mere visibility of enforcers can prompt drivers to slow down.

He pointed out that enforcement has been inconsistent in the past, with several sections of expressways lacking adequate monitoring. To address this, Mendoza called for real-time surveillance and immediate action against violators, particularly those caught overspeeding.

He criticized the current practice of apprehending violators only at exit points. “Paano kung in between kung saan yung overspeeding unang na-monitor at sa exit point ay naaksidente at nakapang-damay pa ng ibang sasakyan? Paano ngayon yun?” he said, raising concerns about the risk of accidents occurring before offenders are stopped.

According to data from the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group, over 31,000 road accidents were recorded in 2024, with 13 percent happening on expressways. Mendoza noted that nearly all of these expressway accidents were fatal, further highlighting the urgency of preventive enforcement.

“We really need to do more. As our deputized enforcers, you share our obligation, our mandate to ensure the safety of motorists and all the people using expressways at all times,” Mendoza concluded.