PNP, LTO SAY
Reckless driving causes
increase in road mishaps

The easy access by the public to motorcycles and the "undisciplined" driving were cited by the PNP yesterday as factors in the increase in motorcycle accidents in Bacolod City recorded during the first two quarters of 2007 compared to last year's.

Police records showed that 392 out of the 2,841 vehicular accidents reported by the Bacolod City Police Office Traffic Management Unit from January to June, involved motorcycles. This is almost 50 percent higher than those recorded in the same period in 2006 with only 267 motorcycle-related cases out of 2,967 incidents, police records show.

There was also a rise on the number of casualties as there were only four deaths connected with vehicular accidents in 2006, compared to the 15 cases this year based on the BCPO-TMU records.

BCPO-TMU chief Levy Pangue said that one reason for the increase in motorcycle accidents is that the public has easy access to the vehicles.

The average prices for motorcycles range from P30,000 to 45,000 and they can be bought on installment basis with only around P5,000 as down payment, Bacolod City motorcycle dealers said.

"It's easy for people to acquire them," Pangue said.

BCPO director Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar, on the other hand, said that "undisciplined" driving is also among the causes of vehicular accidents, particularly, motorcycle collisions.

He added that many drivers try to beat red lights at intersections and this practice has often been the reason for collisions.

Quebrar said drivers should follow traffic rules, especially in wearing protective helmets for those who drive motorcycles.

He added that traffic enforcers of the city are also doing their duties to enforce traffic rules and ensure the safety of the public.

Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Office always puts emphasis on safety driving, though most drivers tend to ignore this warning, provincial LTO officer Norman Saril said yesterday.

The spate of accidents involving motorcycle riders in the province recently is caused by several factors such as over-speeding and ill-timed overtaking, he said.

Enforcers go out everyday to confiscate the licenses of motorcycle riders who are not wearing helmets but despite nonstop apprehensions, violators still abound, Saril added.

"We always remind them that lives are at stake and they can not afford to be reckless when they drive," he added.

Though undermanned, he said, the LTO is doing its best to enforce traffic rules.

Local government units also send their qualified personnel for training and were deputized by the LTO as traffic enforcers.

There are now about 30,000 registered motorcycles in Negros Occidental. The figure represents almost 25 percent of the total number in Western Visayas, Saril said.

Bacolod City has the biggest number of registered vehicles comprising 48 percent of the total number in the region.

With almost 77,000 vehicles in the province, the LTO has to contend with the enormous task of implementing traffic laws, Saril said.

He appealed to the drivers to observe traffic rules to avoid accidents, stressing that their safety and that of their passengers lies in their hands.*NAB/PP

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'27 nabbed for
drugs in 6 months

Twenty-seven persons were arrested by the police in 21 operations against illegal drugs activities in Bacolod City during the first two quarters of the year, the PNP said yesterday.

Out of the 27 suspects, 20 have been charged with violations of the Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Bacolod City Police Office Drug Enforcement Unit records showed.

Around 52.36 grams of shabu and marijuana valued at about P14,000 were also seized from the suspects during the raids conducted by the BCPO-DEU from January to June.

BCPO director Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar said the arrests and the recovery of the illegal substances was the result of their intensified campaign against prohibited drugs that have been supported by concerned citizens.

He also said they are continuing their drive against drug pushers and users and that they always welcome information from the public.

"We are checking these reports. It doesn't mean that if we don't conduct an operation right away, we are not interested. It just takes us time because we want to verify the illegal activities before acting on them," Quebrar said.*PP

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