A total of 529,578 motorists were arrested in 2023 by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) which intensified the implementation of road safety and other traffic laws to ensure the safety of all road users across the country.
For this year and based on the guidance of Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista, LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II, instructed all Regional Directors to maintain the visibility of LTO traffic enforcers on the roads to compel errant motorists to behave.
"The mere presence of our uniformed personnel on the roads already encourages motorists to observe discipline. So we want the presence of our personnel on the road further intensified because observance of traffic discipline translates to road safety," Mendoza said.
"This is the reason why the procurement of more motor vehicles that will be used by our enforcers is one of our priorities this year," he added.
Based on the data of the LTO, the common reasons for apprehensions of motorists are violations of the Clean Air Act or the Republic Act 8749, Seatbelt Law Act or RA 8750, and overloading.
The same data also revealed that the LTO has impounded a total of 23,615 motor vehicles, a 47 percent increase compared to those impounded in 2022.
Mendoza then urged motor vehicle owners to follow the traffic laws and other road safety rules and regulations, especially since the LTO has started the strict implementation of the "No Registration, No Travel" policy.
The "No Registration, No Travel" policy is aimed at ensuring the registration of around 24.7 million delinquent motor vehicles with expired registration. The figure represents around 65 percent of the total vehicles in the country.
Mendoza explained that such a policy is important since motor vehicle registration and renewal are one of the best ways to check on the roadworthiness of motor vehicles.
"As much as possible, ayaw natin na may mahuhuling violators dahil may kasama lagi itong multa na dagdag gastos sa ating mga kababayan. Subalit kailangan nating paigtingin ang ating kampanya para sa disiplina sa daan dahil ang nakasalalay dito ay ang kaligtasan ng lahat," Mendoza said.