BACOLOD City – The head of the Traffic Management Unit of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO-TMU) appealed to motorists to avoid driving while under the influence of liquor amid the various Christmas parties being hosted in the city.
BCPO-TMU head Major Ramel Sarona said they have recorded an increase in the number of road accidents in the city in the past few days.
He said most of the accidents involved motorcycles; the driver was either driving too fast or inebriated.
Sarona said he has coordinated with Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) head Patrick Lacson to see if they can install additional signages on the roads, particularly in the accident prone areas.
Previously, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) reported that they, too, are monitoring an increasing trend of deadly road accidents in the province this holiday season.
In response to the alarming number of accidents, NOCPPO director Colonel Leo Pamittan held a meeting with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the local government units (LGUs) on how they could improve road safety awareness.
For the meantime, Pamittan said he has ordered police commanders in the province to strengthen their police visibility in the highways.
Furthermore, due to the ongoing sugar milling season, Pamittan has also ordered the police commanders to strictly enforce the overloading and height limits among cane trucks and haulers.
Under the present regulations, cane trucks are only allowed to load sugarcane – 14 feet from the ground up to the top of the truck.
Cane trucks and haulers must also have adequate lighting to avoid accidents. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
