MMDA nabs drivers of 54 speeding vehicles

MANILA, Philippines - Traffic enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday arrested the drivers of 54 vehicles along the Diosdado Macapagal Avenue for breaking the 60-kilometer per hour (kph) speed limit.

Among those nabbed were drivers of 35 private vehicles, five buses, five motorcycles and eight taxicabs.

MMDA enforcers on Friday also pulled over 131 vehicles along the Diosdado Macapagal Avenue for speeding. Violators were ordered to pay a P2,000 fine.

The speed limit was imposed on the five-kilometer highway that stretches between Pasay City and Parañaque City and links the southern part of Metro Manila with the province of Cavite, since July 26.

Tolentino said the imposition of the 60-kph speed limit was in response to clamor from motorists to curb the spate of vehicular and pedestrian accidents in the area. He said the speed limit also applies to motorcycles.

“The emerging location for shopping centers and other establishments along Macapagal Avenue also multiplies the volume of vehicles that traverse in the said thoroughfare which results to the high rate of road accidents and tragic loss of lives, limbs and property, especially during night time when it is also being used by drag racers,” he said.

The MMDA also imposed a 60-kph speed limit along the Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City which has been dubbed as the Metro’s “killer highway” owing to the high rate of fatal vehicular accidents, the most recent of which, claimed the life of University of the Philippines journalism professor and veteran journalist Lourdes “Chit” Estella-Simbulan.