Solon slams ‘unimplemented’ bus safety laws

A lawmaker on Wednesday pressed Transportation authorities to strictly enforce a 2017 mandate limiting public utility bus drivers to six hours of daily driving, warning that fatigue remains a primary cause of fatal road accidents.

During a hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Services, Senator Raffy Tulfo cited that while the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) issued the policy years ago, many bus companies continue to ignore it.

“Too much working hours for the drivers has been a key contributor to rampant road accidents, in which, mostly, the driver fell asleep at the wheel,” said Tulfo, the committee chairperson.

Under Memorandum Circular 2017-012, bus operators are required to assign a standby driver — not the conductor — to take over if a trip exceeds six hours. Operators found in violation face fines of up to P10,000 and a 60-day suspension.

Land Transportation Office (LTO) executive director Greg Pua Jr. told the panel that while the agency conducts random inspections, it lacks the manpower to enforce the rule regularly. Pua also expressed concern that strictly mandating a second driver could lead to higher operating costs.

“We are also studying how much this will cost the operator because if we were to make it mandatory, they may suddenly ask for a fare increase,” Pua said. He added that the LTO is exploring technology to monitor driving hours electronically.

Tulfo also criticized the LTO and LTFRB for failing to effectively implement the Road Speed Limiter Act of 2016. The law requires speed limiters in all public utility vehicles, but Tulfo said surprise inspections he led last year revealed many buses still lack the devices.

“Because buses, if they don’t have speed limiters, will just keep speeding nonstop,” Tulfo said. “We have to implement this because it was already passed into law. This will save lives.”

Pua responded that a major hurdle is a lack of suppliers, with only two providers currently accredited by the Department of Trade and Industry to install the devices. However, Giovani Simundac, president of the Southern Luzon Bus Operators Association, told the committee that all of their modern units are already equipped with speed limiters.