More motorists arrested, vehicles impounded

CEBU, Philippines — More motorists were apprehended and more vehicles impounded in 2024 than in 2023, the Land Transportation Office reported.

The end of 2024 saw a total of 639,323 motorists in the country being apprehended for various violations as against 529,439 in 2023.

This is a 20.75% increase compared to the 12 months of 2023, LTO said.

LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, attributed the increase in apprehended motorists to the implementation of new strategies for the strict enforcement of road safety rules and regulations.

The intensified visibility of agency’s enforcers, in coordination with the Philippine National Police and the local government units, resulted in the increase of apprehensions accordingly.

LTO-Calabarzon recorded the most number of apprehended drivers with 109,159 followed by Cagayan Valley Region with 70,855. LTO-Calabarzon also registered a 144.11% increase in the number of apprehensions for 2024 compared in 2023 (44,717 apprehended motorists in 2023 while 109,159 motorists in 2024) followed by LTO-Mimaropa with 120.76% increase, or from 14,079 apprehended motorists in 2023 to 31,081 apprehensions in 2024.

LTO’s report did not show the other regions’ data as of this writing.

Mendoza commended their enforcers for a job well done in 2024.

“I commend our enforcers for going the extra mile in enforcing traffic rules and regulations. Most of them even went on duty at night and even in the wee hours in the morning just to enforce the law,” he said.

Among the operations that required night operations were the anti-colorum drive and the operations against trucks that violate road safety regulations, such as overloading and using worn-out tires.

Meanwhile, a total of 29,709 motor vehicles were impounded in 2024. The 2024 apprehensions reflected a 21.93% increase compared to 24,366 motor vehicles impounded in 2023, LTO said.

Mendoza vowed to sustain the aggressive operations as part of the government's efforts to ensure the safety of all road users.

Earlier, he also urged motorists to include road discipline and responsible driving in their new year’s resolution for 2025.

The Department of Transportation under the leadership of Secretary Jaime Bautista has been pushing for the reduction of road accident deaths by 35% before the end of the term of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

LTO then reinforced it with its STOP Road Crash advocacy program to encourage more motorists to always ensure safe and responsible driving. — (FREEMAN)