More than 80 scooter accidents in the National Capital Region have been recorded by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in the first half of the year, as the agency encourages owners of e-scooters and e-bikes to register their vehicles with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
E-scooters and e-bikes have gained popularity amid lockdowns and limited public transportation due to the pandemic. But MMDA chairman Romando Artes told DZRH on Wednesday that over 380 scooter-related accidents have been recorded last year.
"[Na-observe] po namin last year alone, sa amin pong tala, 380 plus ang naaksidente sa scooter," he said. "At ngayon pong taong ito mahigit na po 80."
(We observed in the last year alone, in our records, there are 380 plus accidents from scooters.)
"'Yun po ay 'yung nasa talaan lang namin, wala pa po diyan 'yung naaksidente sa mga kalsada na outside of our jurisdiction," he added.
(That is just in our records, not including the road accidents outside our jurisdiction.)
This is why the MMDA said it is encouraging e-scooter and e-bike owners to start registering their vehicles, as mandated in the LTO's Administrative Order 2021-039.
"Kailangan din po na ipatupad ito para ma-educate naman 'yung mga gumagamit ng e-scooters at e-bikes sa tamang paggamit at 'yung mga panuntunan sa kalsada," said Artes.
(We need to implement this to educate users of e-scooters and e-bikes on their proper usage as well as road regulations.)
"Hindi po sila pinagbabawalan na gumamit ng e-scooters, at hindi rin naman sila ginigipit," he added. "It's just that kailangan magkaroon tayo ng rules sa paggamit nito para rin sa proteksyon nila at proteksyon ng iba pang motorista."
(We are not prohibiting them from using e-scooters. It’s just that we need to have rules in using them for their protection and protection of other motorists.)
