Abaday seeks stricter traffic enforcement, procurement of facilities

“By strict implementation (of the road safety ordinance) and the procurement of traffic facilities, we will save lives.”

This was pointed out by Councilor Roger Abaday, during the regular session of the 20th City Council presided over by Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez, as he expressed concern on the alarming statistics of motorcycle accidents in the city, recording 329 injuries and deaths overall.

In his special report, Councilor Abaday called for the enforcement of the recently passed ordinance on road safety and for the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) to strictly enforce the ‘no helmet, no travel’ policy, especially during night time and early morning.

He stated that traffic offenders should not only be fined but their motorcycles impounded and be required to show a prescribed helmet upon redemption of their impounded vehicles.

“Kay ang nahitabo gud, dakpon lang, kuhaan og lisensiya, balik padagan nasad nimo. So, (prone) to accident gihapon,” the councilor stressed.

In compliance with the ordinance, he also proposed for the procurement of speed limit gun and breathalyzer, citing their importance in detecting driver-violators under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Random sobriety checkpoints in terminals must also be conducted, he added.

“These are the best preventive measures that the city can do to prevent future recurrence (of vehicular accidents),” he concluded.

Councilor Abaday referred the matter to the Committees on Public Order and Safety and on Finance, Budget, and Appropriations, respectively chaired by Councilors Romeo V. Calizo and Yan Lam S. Lim, for further study and appropriation.