The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported that over 1,300 motorists were apprehended during the first day of the exclusive motorcycle lane on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.
The data released by the MMDA showed it has apprehended 1,238 motorists violating the exclusive motorcycle lane as of 12 noon yesterday, March 27, 2023. The agency in coordination with the Quezon City Traffic and Transport Management Department (QC-TTMD) revealed that it has issued more tickets to private vehicles as compared to motorcycle riders.
The MMDA and the QC-TTMD said that as of 12 noon (March 27), it has apprehended 757 private vehicles violating the exclusive motorcycle lane along Commonwealth Ave. Meanwhile, there were 482 motorcycle riders who were flagged down for violating the new traffic law on the said thoroughfare.
The total number of apprehensions increased to more than 1,300 as of 5 p.m. yesterday, March 27. The MMDA said that it has flagged down 1,391 motorists violating the exclusive motorcycle lane on Commonwealth Ave. However, the MMDA and the QC-TTMD did not provide a breakdown as to how many private vehicles and motorcycle riders were apprehended as of 5 p.m. on March 27.
The exclusive motorcycle lane along Commonwealth Ave. is now being fully implemented. The said lane stretches from Elliptical Road up to Doña Carmen and vice versa.
MMDA Resolution No. 22-15 states that the outermost lane of Commonwealth Avenue (nearest to the sidewalk) is designated as the bicycle lane. The second lane is for PUVs while the third lane is the exclusive motorcycle lane. The other remaining lanes along Commonwealth Ave. are for other motor vehicles.
According to the MMDA, violators will be fined Php 500 (motorcycle riders and private motorists). On the other hand, a public utility vehicle caught violating the exclusive motorcycle lane will be fined Php 1,200.
The said traffic scheme was approved in the hopes of reducing road accidents along Commonwealth Ave. Based on the MMDA’s Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS), there were 1,685 motorcycle-related accidents in 2022 on Commonwealth Ave. From the said number, 13 cases were reported as fatal while 930 cases involved non-fatal injuries, and 743 cases resulted in damage to property.
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