LTO wants stricter law enforcement along expressways

Following directives from the President and Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has convened with expressway operators, mandating strict and proactive law enforcement along NLEX, SCTEX, Harbor Link, CAVITEX, C5 Link, CCLEX, CALAX, SLEX, Skyway (including Stage 3), NAIAX, STAR, MCX, and TPLEX.

“The presence alone of even the expressway enforcers compel motorists to behave,” said LTO Assistant Secretary, Atty. Vigor Mendoza II. “If they’re over speeding, they will slow down when they see the vehicles of the enforcers along the expressways.”

Highlighting the importance of visibility, the LTO Chief cited observations from both motorists and his personal experiences on expressways, regarding the often limited presence of enforcers, particularly in critical areas. Mendoza also emphasized during the meeting that the focus will be on active monitoring and real-time, rapid response by expressway enforcers to all road safety violations, with a strong emphasis on speeding.

Mendoza noted that when speeding motorists are monitored via speed guns, the current system only involves enforcers waiting at the exit point or toll plazas to apprehend the erring motorist. He then posed a question: What happens if an accident, potentially involving other vehicles, occurs between the initial point of speeding detection and the exit?

This is when the LTO Chief stressed the need for a proactive and rapid response, stating that efforts to apprehend speeding drivers should be made immediately to prevent potential accidents.

Drawing on PNP-HPG statistics, Mendoza revealed that while 13% of the 31,000+ road accidents in 2024 happened on expressways, tragically, almost all of these expressway crashes were fatal.

“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,” added Mendoza.