Motorbike riders no better than street toughs

[bender]

‘Motorbike riders no better than street toughs’


The Philippine Star

Most motorcycle riders, called the new "kings of the road" are no different from street toughs killed for their abusive behavior and recklessness, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Saturday.

"Most of these motorcycle riders seem not to consider the rights of others when driving. They weave in between vehicles. They have to follow rules and regulations and they should not drive along the dividing lane of roads," MMDA traffic enforcement division chief Angelito Vergel de Dios said in a radio interview.

He added that motorcycle riders cause problems on the road and often figure in fatal road accidents.

Vergel de Dios said there are 2.4 million registered motorcycles in the country, of which 273,417 units are in Metro Manila. He said most motorcycles are not supposed to be driven on busy streets and major thoroughfares because they are prone to accidents.

"There are many unregistered motorcycles, especially outside Metro Manila like Bulacan and Cavite. They should be used only in subdivisions and not outside because this is prohibited," he said.

Vergel de Dios said the MMDA conducted a two-day motorbike-riding seminar starting on Saturday for some government agencies and motorcycle dealers.

The MMDA will ask the Land Transportation Office to help the agency strictly require individuals applying for or renewing their license and motorcycle registration to use protective gear such as full-face helmets, gloves and closed shoes.

The MMDA supports a Makati City ordinance requiring the use of full-face helmets for motorcycle drivers and half-face helmets for riders because of the rising cases of ambush and robbery using motorcycles. Pia Lee-Brago

[Horsepower]

Given the number of riders who die everyday, i think they already know this.

[bender]

Yeah, i was waiting for the authorities to pay attention to this situation. In Edsa, the situation is not too noticeable given the huge number of vehicles but on areas such as Novaliches and Valenzuela, motorcycles can outnumber the amount of cars on the road.

[mhelskie]

d pa ba nila ire regulate ung mga pag rehistro ng mga motorsiklo? parang masyado na atang madami sila nakakagulat pa minsan, bigla na lang dadaan sa tabi mo at re rev an ka pa ng mai ingay nilang tambutso hayyy

[torque2006]

more than half of registered vehicles in the philippines are motorcycles. kaya sila ang palaging nasisisi ng mga naka kotse, kase mas marami sila eh.

it's not that they don't care about the laws or something. they just don't have the proper training to drive their mopeds, same with the jeepney drivers and taxi drivers.

the mmda seminar was just for pr purposes. what we need is a stronger law. dapat talaga everyone has to go through a driving school before going out on the road. yun lang ang paraan para matuto sila ng proper road use.

[jasprit]

sana naman matuloy yng pag higpit nila sa renewal ng no.1 restriction code(for motorcycle). Malaking tulong toh....

[ryan]

I think its very wrong for a government agency to do a press release like that cuz it just shows how incapable they are in dealing with problems. I mean, just look at the quality of MMDA street enforcers we have and how uncorrupt they are hehehe!