The NLEX Corporation today said it has employed further safety measures and intensified its operations in enforcing traffic laws related to seat belt use, speeding, and overloading — to ensure utmost safety and convenience of motorists traveling the NLEX and SCTEX.
Records show that with the strict enforcement drive, traffic citations in both NLEX and SCTEX increased to 92% or 71,146 cases in the first half of 2018 compared to the 37,106 cases in the same period last year. Top three traffic violations are overloading, speeding, and not wearing seat belt.
NLEX Corporation President and CEO Rodrigo E. Franco said, “the safety of our motorists has always been our topmost priority since we opened in 2005. Our intensified road safety programs and measures are in keeping with our continuing efforts to make sure that traveling along the NLEX-SCTEX would always be safe and convenient.”
Franco added he “hopes motorists will be able to adjust and correct their unsafe road practices for the benefit of everyone traveling our expressways.”
Speed Management
To enhance traffic safety and control, the NLEX patrol crews have started using the Gatso Speed CCTV System in cracking down vehicles that go beyond the maximum speed limits. NLEX has three fixed and two portable units placed at strategic locations to effectively capture speeding vehicles.
Unlike the handheld laser radar speed gun, the new speed monitoring system performs automatic speed profiling and plate number identification. It is capable of tracking the speed and position of up to 32 vehicles in the target area simultaneously and sends real-time speed data to the apprehending traffic officers.
An 80 kph maximum limit is established for trucks and buses while 100 kph maximum for cars. Minimum speed for all vehicles is set at 60 kph.
Seat Belt Use
The tollway company continues to urge drivers as well as passengers to always buckle up when traveling to keep them safe and protected.
This year, more traffic officers have been deployed at toll plazas to flag down those who violate the Seat Belts Use Act. Seat belt safety messages have also been installed at toll plazas to contribute to safer travel.
Based on NLEX records, about 10,161 motorists or 14% of the total traffic violators for the 1st half of 2018 were comprised of those who are not wearing seat belts.
Anti-Overloading Program
As overloading topped the list of violations at NLEX-SCTEX, the NLEX Corporation is boosting its drive against overloaded vehicles. From January to June 2018, around 15,880 vehicles were apprehended at the expressways for violating the anti-overloading provision stated in Republic Act 8794 or “An Act Imposing a Motor Vehicle Users Charge on Owners of all Types of Motor Vehicle and for Other Purposes.”
Since 2005, the tollway company, in cooperation with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO), has been strictly enforcing the axle load limit of 13,500 kilograms or 13.5 metric tons. Patrol crews operate DOST-calibrated weighing scales near select entry points to measure vehicles and determine overloading violation.
The anti-overloading program aims to safeguard motorists by not allowing overloaded trucks and trailers from entering the expressways or by asking them to go to the nearest exit. Overloaded vehicles damage road surfaces with their excess weight and pose a threat on the safety of motorists as extra load may affect vehicle control.
