Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II on Sunday ordered a crackdown on truck violations, especially during nighttime and early morning hours when truck bans are lifted.

Mendoza said the move aims to prevent road accidents as the holiday season approaches and the volume of vehicles on the road is expected to increase.

“The checking should be random and unless there is a violation, they should always be reminded to exercise caution and ensure that the brakes are working,” Mendoza said.

LTO enforcers will be deployed to major roads and expressways to conduct random inspections on trucks. The agency has also issued show cause orders against the owners and drivers of two trucks involved in recent fatal accidents in Parañaque and Quezon City.

Mendoza urged truck owners and operators to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy.

“This is part of their obligation to their business, their clients, their staff and all road users,” Mendoza said.

He also directed regional directors to conduct surprise inspections on passenger buses and drug test drivers to ensure road safety during the holiday season.

“Our visibility on the road is important especially that we expect the increase of motor vehicles on the road on the days leading to the Christmas and New Year,” Mendoza said. “Our intensified measures in terms of enforcement of traffic laws is in line with the instruction of Transport Secretary Jaime J. Bautista to ensure the safety of all road users.”

“Our job is to ensure that they are safe on their way to the provinces and back to normal days come January next year. And this could be done through our intensified visibility that will prevent road accidents,” added the LTO chief.