The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) appealed on Wednesday to private vehicles to stay out of the designated bus lane in EDSA.
This comes after a motorcycle rider was hit by a white sports utility vehicle (SUV) and ran over by a truck along the EDSA Shaw Boulevard tunnel past 5 AM on Wednesday.
Based on the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, both the rider and the SUV driver were traversing in the EDSA bus lane when the accident happened. The motorcycle rider was dead on the spot.
"Noong June 5 pa ay kami na ay nag-post sa aming social media pages at sinasabi namin na bawal pumasok sa bus lane kahit anong uri ng sasakayan. Unang-una ay ito ay bawal at pangalawa ay ito ay delikado," MMDA acting chairman Don Artes said.
MMDA, muling umapela sa mga pribadong sasakyan na iwasan ang ‘bus lane’ sa EDSA upang maiwasan ang mga aksidente tulad ng hit-and-run sa isang motorsiklo kaninang umaga sa Shaw Blvd. sa Mandaluyong | @dzrhnews https://t.co/kTA3qMRg2o pic.twitter.com/bSR5e6CCc0
— Christian Maño (@xtian_mano) June 14, 2023
He reiterated that the bus lane in EDSA is exclusive only for passenger buses, ambulances, and marked government vehicles responding to emergencies.
"We keep on reminding motorists not to use the innermost lane of EDSA as it may result in an accident, but despite our repeated calls and pleas, many drivers of privately-owned vehicles and motorcycle riders disregard the policy," Artes said.
According to the MMDA chief, the number of accidents has increased since the No Contact Traffic Apprehension (NCAP) was suspended.
In August last year, the Supreme Court (SC) issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the implementation of NCAP following petitions by transportation groups.
Artes said the number of accidents rose to 22,736 from 9,514, a month after the SC ordered NCAP's suspension.
"Dito rin sa aming datos ay halos na-triple po 'yung violations. Itong mga violations na ito ay nagca-cause ng accident at traffic," he said.
For this reason, the MMDA acting chairman said they will write a letter urging the Office of the Solicitor General to appeal to the Supreme Court to resolve the issues regarding NCAP immediately.
MMDA, susulat sa Office of the Solicitor General upang umapela sa Supreme Court na muling maipatupad ng ahensya ang NCAP sa NCR upang maiwasan ang tumataas na bilang ng aksidente sa lansangan bunsod ng mga paglabag sa batas trapiko | @dzrhnews pic.twitter.com/b9MWBAaSvH
— Christian Maño (@xtian_mano) June 14, 2023
