LTO accosts 16 drunk drivers during Holy Week break

MANILA, Philippines - Land Transportation Office (LTO) enforcers apprehended 16 motorists suspected of driving while intoxicated during the Holy Week break, LTO-National Capital Region director Teofilo Guadiz III said yesterday.

He said the motorists were asked to pull over to the side of the road because they were too drunk to safely steer the vehicle. “The drivers were not allowed to leave the scene until a replacement driver arrived,” Guadiz said.

According to Guadiz, their teams specifically went after drunk drivers during the Holy Week break since a number of road accidents have been attributed to intoxicated drivers.

“After the passengers and the motorist left Metropolitan Manila for the provinces last April 4, the task of the LTO-NCR was to ensure the safety of the streets against drunk drivers and drag racers,” Guadiz said.

The LTO official cited that from April 4 to April 8, teams were stationed in key areas of the metropolis from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. on the lookout for drivers who could be drunk or high.

The areas that were placed under watch were Macapagal and Roxas Boulevards; Makati Avenue and neighboring streets; Quezon Boulevard and its vicinity, the entire area of Balintawak and Rizal Avenue; and the roads leading to and from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1, 2 and 3.

Guadiz reported that there were 12 reported vehicular accidents during this period. Three of them happened in the vicinity of Baclaran and Macapagal and Roxas Boulevards. Two of the accidents happened along the stretch of Rizal Avenue in Caloocan; one accident happened along Harrison street.

Three motorcycle-related accidents happened along Quezon Boulevard, Shaw Boulevard and Ortigas Avenue. One near-fatal motorcycle accident happened along Sucat Road in Parañaque when the driver skidded off the road and fractured his right knee. Three of the vehicular accidents involved taxicabs and occurred along Makati Avenue, España Boulevard and along Tayuman in Manila.

Eight of the reported mishaps were minor accidents and there were no reported injuries. Four of the incidents involved motorcycles and all of the drivers suffered concussion and bruises.