Almost 1,500 motorists caught violating motorcycle lane on Commonwealth 

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has flagged down a total of 1,494 motorists within the first four days (March 9 to 12, 2023) of the dry run for the exclusive motorcycle lane on Commonwealth Avenue. 

A tally of those who violated the exclusive motorcyle lane policy during the dry run

That total figure for the first four days of the dry run can be further broken down into two categories. A total of 949 motorcycles were flagged down for violating the exclusive motorcycle lane policy. “Private vehicles,” or four-wheeled vehicles meanwhile, numbered at 545. 

The MMDA also provided a count of erring motorists per day for the first four days of the exclusive motorcycle lane’s dry run. On the first day, 276 motorcycles and 61 private vehicles were flagged down. March 10, or the second day of the dry run, then saw the most flagged-down motorcycles totaling 368. The second day also saw the highest number of flagged-down private vehicles with a total of 201.  

The numbers then went down on the following days, with March 11 seeing 177 motorcycles and 186 private vehicles caught. March 12 then saw the least number of caught motorcycles at 129, and the least flagged down private vehicles numbering at 97.  

Be reminded that the MMDA did not issue tickets to these erring motorists. In fact, no penalties or tickets will be issued until March 20, 2023, a day after the end of the dry run on March 19, 2023.    

At a press conference, MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes said that the declining number of erring motorists shows that many are slowly getting used to the exclusive motorcycle lane on Commonwealth Ave. Artes is likewise expecting that these numbers will go further down during the remaining days of the dry run. 

The dry run for the exclusive motorcycle lane will last until March 19, 2023

Artes also added that the MMDA is already working with the Department of Public Works and Highways to smoothen out parts of Commonwealth Avenue. Bad road conditions, after all, were cited by many netizen motorcyclists as the cause for having to avoid certain parts of the exclusive motorcycle lane. 

Artes likewise hinted at implementing exclusive motorcycle lanes on other major roads in Metro Manila. He then appealed to motorists, by saying “to give the policy a chance and follow the road rules.” 

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