Manila: A government agency caught 300 violators when it launched a major traffic enforcement plan that included a 60-kilometre per hour speed limit and anti-jaywalking along a 12.4 kilometre major thoroughfare called Commonwealth, long dubbed as a "killer highway" in suburban Quezon City, a TV report said.
Over speeding passenger buses have been blamed for the death of 300 along Commonwealth.
"This should stop," Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino said in a TV interview.
"I am very positive that the new traffic scheme can help reduce traffic accidents along Commonwealth Avenue. We hope it will no longer be called a killer highway," said Tolentino, who added, "Our aim is to save lives by minimizing accidents."
Lane segregation along Commonwealth Avenue's nine lane on both sides began on Tuesday and further intensified on Wednesday. Right-most lanes were assigned for buses, second lane for motorcycles and small passenger vehicles (or jeepneys), and the next five lanes for private vehicles, said Tolentino
Vehicles that run on motorcycle (or tricycles) were banned from Commonwealth, said Tolentino, adding that MMDA deployed 140 traffic enforcers and speed guns along Commonwealth Avenue.
Sidewalks were also cleared of illegal vendors who have been blamed for traffic problems.
Violators were given only a warning on Tuesday and Wednesday. Later, violators will be given a week to pay the fine corresponding to their traffic violations as recorded on video, said Tolentino.
If violators fail to pay fine, they will receive a second notice. If they fail to respond to the second notice, their names will be on the alarm list of the Land Transportation Office, preventing them from renewing their driver's licenses or the registration of their vehicles, Tolentino explained.
