EWD now a must

Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Roberto Lastimoso warned that heads will roll when motor vehicles are registered with the LTO without early warning devices (EWDs).

In a memorandum circular, Lastimoso said that any LTO employee and official "who caused the registration of vehicles except motorcycles/tricycles, without EWD is liable to administrative charges."

"It has come to (my) attention that various issuances on the installation and use of the EWDs are not strictly being enforced. Any official or employee of the LTO who violates any provisions of this circular shall be dealt with administratively," he said.

Under Letter of Instruction No. 229 and an Administrative Order issued on Dec. 10, 1976, all motor vehicles are required to be equipped with EWDs. The LTO, however, observed that such policy is no longer observed by many motorists. There had been accidents where running vehicles would ram into a vehicle that did not display EWD to alert motorists.

Lastimoso said all motorists should have "at all times in their vehicles at least one pair of EWD, one red and one yellow."

"Wherever any motor vehicle is stalled, or disabled, or is parked for 30 minutes or more on any street or highway, including expressways or limited access roads, the owner, user or driver thereof shall cause EWDs to be installed at least four meters away from the front and rear of the motor vehicle stalled, disabled or parked," he said.

He said that no motor vehicle except motorcycles shall be registered by the LTO unless it is equipped with EWDs. Lastimoso added that a fine of P300 and 30-day suspension of driver’s license await the motorist who fail to observe the policy.

"For failure to install EWDs and such failure resulted in an accident, the license of the driver shall be suspended for a period not exceeding two years or revocation of driver’s license depending on the circumstances of the case," he said.