The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is urging motorists to include road discipline and responsible driving in their New Year’s resolution for 2025 as it vowed to continue aggressive operations and promote its advocacy for the safety of all road users.
The weeks before the end of 2024 were marked by fatal road accidents, including the Katipunan flyover incident that left four people dead and 25 others, and at least two other truck crashes, which prompted LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II to strictly enforce road safety measures.
These included deployment of LTO enforcers in all the truck routes during nighttime up to early morning for the conduct of surprise and random roadworthiness inspections. Over 25 truck operators were issued with show-cause orders after their trucks were found to be using worn-out tires.
Mendoza directed agency enforcers to also prioritize checking of trucks for overloading, stressing that overloaded trucks compromise the motor vehicles brake system and the engine performance.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has been pushing for the reduction of road accident fatalities by 35 percent before the end of the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
While the LTO has been conducting operations to ensure the safety of all road users, the major contribution to the success of the road safety advocacy is the cooperation of all motorists and other road users, Mendoza said.
“Driving a motor vehicle is a privilege being given by the government under the condition that you should always be responsible and courteous. It is not only the lives of the motorists who are at risk due to irresponsible driving, the safety of the pedestrians and other road users are also compromised,” he underscored.
“While we commit to provide much better services, we also encourage all our clients to help us, to join us in our goal of making all the roads in the Philippines safe for everybody. Let us include in our New Year’s Resolution to be a disciplined and responsible motorist,” Mendoza added.
He expressed optimism for better services of the LTO for 2025, citing the success of all the reform programs in the agency in 2024 that led to the improved revenue collection and in boosting the morale of all LTO workers.
