Speed limits set in new Quezon City Road Safety Code

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Quezon City Road Safety Code is now awaiting the signature of Mayor Herbert Bautista, after the Quezon City Council approved it on 3rd and final reading on Tuesday, October 10.

Spearheaded by Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and transportation committee chairman Councilor Oliviere Belmonte, the road safety ordinance seeks to “ensure the safety of all road users within the territorial jurisdiction of Quezon City and to promote public health, safety, and convenience.”

Since 2010, Quezon City has had the most number of road crashes in Metro Manila. In 2016 alone, there were 33,717 road crashes that resulted in 116 fatalities and 4,755 injuries.

The new Quezon City Road Safety Code is patterned after the 5 pillars of the United Nations’ Road Safety Action Plan: road safety management, safer roads and mobility, safer vehicles, safer road users, and post-crash care.

One of the key features of the ordinance is that it sets speed limits for specific roads in the city:

Other provisions of the ordinance include the following:

• There will be random sobriety checkpoints to prevent drunk and drugged driving.

• Authorities must establish a convenient and standardized system of reporting where citizens may directly file their complaints and/or requests regarding any concern related to road safety.

• The Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS), as the lead agency, should ensure that at least 10 kilometers of bicycle lanes are installed every year for 5 years.

• Motorcycles using sidewalks will be penalized P2,000 for the first offense, P3,500 for the second offense, and P5,000 for the third offense.

• Construction projects, roadworks, and other similar activities should undergo Road Safety Impact Assessment to ensure alternative solutions for affected pedestrian lanes or sidewalks. Roadworks in private streets are exempted from the assessment.

• Prohibition of the use of motorcycles to carry passengers for a fee.

• A victim of a road crash or his/her family may avail of assistance from the City Social Services Development Department.

Prior to this ordinance, Quezon City already had 8 road safety-related ordinances:

• Traffic Management Code and its amendments
• Tricycle Management Code of 2014
• Children on Board Motorcycles
• Maximum Load on Motorcycles
• Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving
• Speed limit on Commonwealth Avenue
• Side Mirrors on Motor Vehicles
• Removal of Junk and Construction Materials on Road

According to Vice Mayor Belmonte, she felt the need for a more comprehensive road safety measure after seeing the number of road crash incidents in the city during a Rappler Road Safety forum held last May 8.

“I’m hoping that the [implementing agents] will buy into it, see its value [and] be excited about implementing it. I’m also hoping [that] when the measure goes up to the mayor, he [will see] the merit of the measure [and sign it],” the vice mayor told Rappler.

Councilor Belmonte, meanwhile, said he is hoping for safer Quezon City roads.

“I am hopeful that the number of injuries and fatalities will likewise drop as a result of this ordinance,” he said. – Rappler.com