THE LAND Transportation Office in the region has ramped up its road safety campaign to minimize vehicular incidents, particularly involving vulnerable pedestrians.
LTO XI regional director Niel Cañedo headed the launching of the annual road safety and security drive during the flag ceremony at City Hall grounds on Nov. 11.
Cañedo said this year’s celebration will be a month-long observation highlighting the fatal road crashes, collisions, and other incidents, especially the children.
LTO XI will conduct a Road Safety Drill for 1st- 4th grade pupils in remote areas in the city. The drill aims to educate the young who have higher vulnerability to road traffic injuries due to improper use of pedestrian lanes because of lack of information.
For instance, nine-year-old Shienjilyn M. Bangkas, a grade 4 pupil, was killed after she was run over by a bus while on a crosswalk along Quezon Boulevard on Sept. 29.
Cañedo said they are currently looking for the multicab driver who illegally loaded and unloaded at the blind spot of the bus driver.
“Ginapangita pa nato karon ang multicab nga reason ngano wala makit-i sa bus driver kay tungod blind spot niya, but then again ang sad-an gyud ato is kadtong bus driver,” he added.
Apart from the road safety drill, they will also conduct a candlelighting ceremony to pay tribute to all traffic victims. Cañedo said they have no fixed venue and date yet.
While they will educate children on proper crossing and the use of crosswalks, the campaign will also highlight existing laws and regulations for drivers and motorists.
The celebration is in line with Proclamation No. 08, Series of 2019, issued by the former Davao City Mayor, now Vice President Sara Duterte, declaring November as “Road Safety and Road Crash Prevention Month.”
“We have to follow particularly the bike lanes, loading and unloading areas, and pedestrian use which was specifically mentioned by Mayor Baste during our meeting that pedestrian lanes should be respected,” Cañedo said.
“Intensify ta sa law enforcement kay tungod, mao gyud kana ang dapat na buhaton nato para at least, ma discipline gyud atong mga drivers,” he added.
The regional director said human error continues to be the top reason for road crashes in the city and region. Typical causes of apprehended vehicle drivers include illegal U-turns, illegal loading and unloading, road obstruction, and lack of knowledge of the traffic codes.
