ILOILO – With the continued rise in road accidents and cases of reckless driving in Western Visayas, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) vows tougher licensing policies and education-based interventions to address what it says is the root cause: lack of education and road discipline among drivers.
Regional Director Gaudioso Geduspan II said this approach targets not only stricter compliance with licensing requirements but also the literacy and discipline of drivers, which are essential to road safety.
“We offer driver education programs and have strict rules for license applicants. You must be able to read and write to get a license. This is important because you need to understand the guidelines and rules before obtaining a student permit. You also need to learn about driver discipline and attend anger management seminars. Without these skills, you won’t be able to grasp the necessary information,” Geduspan said.
He added that license applicants must not only pass the theoretical driving course but also prove actual driving skills before qualifying for a practical driving course certificate. Those who fail are not issued certification.
“We do not allow someone to proceed if they fail the exam after the theoretical driving course. We will not issue a certificate. After they get a student permit and learn how to drive, we have practical driving courses. If you don’t know how to drive, we will not issue you a practical driving course certificate, which is a requirement before getting a new license,” he explained.
The LTO-6 has also cracked down on erring driving schools. Geduspan confirmed that 14 driving schools — seven in Panay Island and seven in Bacolod-Negros — have been suspended due to irregularities in issuing certificates and for exceeding upload limits for course completions.
According to him, most vehicular accidents can be traced not to vehicle malfunction but to driver irresponsibility, such as overloading and lack of basic road knowledge.
“Intervention starts when applying for a new license. One must know how to drive; otherwise, accidents happen because people don’t know when to turn or how to drive properly. Without training or discipline, accidents are inevitable. In my view, most vehicular accidents involve irresponsible drivers, not mechanical issues or vehicle type. For example, overloading — if you let 69 people ride on top of a jeepney, that’s clearly beyond capacity. Without the knowledge that this is dangerous, this is what happens. That’s still reckless driving,” Geduspan said.
He also addressed drivers who ignore pedestrian lanes, putting lives at risk: “It’s a lack of education. Even a small child, if properly taught by parents or teachers, knows that the pedestrian lane is a safe space to cross. But there are drivers who don’t even stop.”
To strengthen road safety education, the LTO-6 plans to conduct outreach programs in communities, providing free seminars and theoretical driving courses in collaboration with accredited schools. Drivers renewing their licenses must also complete the Driving Enhancement Program (DEP), a refresher course on updated traffic regulations.
“If you violate the law, you face penalties through apprehension,” Geduspan said.
Geduspan urged drivers who may have previously obtained licenses without proper procedures to make amends by educating themselves.
“To the irresponsible drivers, take time to educate yourself. If your license was obtained through shortcuts before, it’s not too late to educate yourselves,” he said./PN
