Now that people and vehicles are again able to move freely, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) reminds the public that safe travels along our roads must always be observed, especially during this holiday season.
LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo “Jay Art” Tugade said that regardless of the many activities of merriment common during the Yuletide season, people and motorists must always maintain discipline in the use of roads. Road safety is important, he said, to avoid road crashes and prevent injuries, damage to property and worse, loss of lives.
“It’s been two years since the pandemic where we failed to celebrate the joys of the season by going to parties. Now that more people can again move to and from parties, it is still important to observe road safety when we travel, not only for ourselves but also for other road users,” LTO Chief Tugade said.
According to the Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS) report of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), there were around 57,179 road crashes already recorded this year, or an average rate of 156.65 cases per day, which is lower than last year’s 160.12 daily average.
Aside from having zero tolerance for corruption, LTO Chief Tugade wishes to achieve minimal casualties on the road this Christmas season, which is what the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan of the Department of Transportation, a roadmap for road safety interventions, aims to achieve.
“After two years of missing parties during the Yuletide season, there’s nothing better than to travel this season in the safest way possible to celebrate Christmas safely with our families and friends. Road crash incidents can be prevented so let’s all travel safely and be happy,” LTO Chief Tugade reiterated.
