Bill seeks to update speed limits on major roads

MANILA, Philippines - A Tarlac congressman has proposed a bill seeking to set speed limits in major thoroughfares in the country in a bid to minimize fatal vehicular accidents.

Rep. Enrique Cojuangco of the 1st district of Tarlac province said House Bill 3377 would give all the government agencies a clear and uniform rule to follow.

"The bill seeks to update the present rules and regulations on road safety and traffic management by including freeways or the controlled access highways in the classifications of roads and set a uniform speed," he said.

The bill will cover the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Metro Manila Skyway (SKYWAY), Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR), Bataan Provincial Expressway, the Manila Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) and all major roads in the country.

"The present law does not include in its classification the class of a controlled access freeways or highways and it does not specify the allowable speed limit for such class of roads," Cojuangco said.

Under the bill, the allowable speed limit on open country road with no blind corners and not closely bordered by habitation is 80 kilometer per hour for cars and motorcycles and 50 kilometer per hour for buses and trucks.

On boulevards, clear of traffic with no blind corners, the speed limit for cars and motorcycles is 40 kilometer per hour and 30 kilometer per hour for trucks and buses.

On city and municipal roads with light traffic, the speed limit for cars and motorcycles is 20 kilometer per hour and 30 kilometer for trucks and buses.

On crowded streets, approaching intersections at blind corners, passing school zones, the speed limit is 20 kilometer per hour for cars and motorcycles and 20 kilometer per hour for trucks and buses.

On expressway or highway designed exclusively for high-speed traffic, the speed limit is 130 kilometer per hour for cars and motorcycles and 110 kilometer per hour for buses and trucks.