IPPO wants ‘unauthorized’ vehicles, drivers off the road

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

An average of nine vehicular incidents happened daily in Iloilo province in 2019.

“And if this isn’t alarming enough, I don’t know what is,” Police Colonel Roland Vilela, Iloilo police chief, said.

In fact, one accident that involved the death of an individual should be a cause for alarm, Vilela added.

Records of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) indicated that 3,299 vehicular incidents happened in the province last year.

Almost half (1,589) were cases of reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property.

On the other hand, 1,571 incidents were cases of reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries and 139 cases of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

Vilela said the statistics on vehicular incidents is the reason why IPPO will further strengthen its campaign against vehicles without or expired registration; drivers without or expired license; and motorcycle drivers and riders not wearing the prescribed crash helmets.

“A lot of vehicular incidents happened because there are vehicles that are not supposed to be on the road but are still plying in thoroughfares,” Vilela said.

In the same way, “there are also drivers who are not capable and not authorized but are behind the wheel,” he said.

Vilela said he ordered a widened conduct of checkpoints, especially at night-time when some drivers might be drunk.

He also reminded motorists to bring pertinent and valid documents of the vehicles they are driving and their driving license.

In the long run, Vilela hoped that the PNP would be able to purchase its own breath analyzers and speed guns to lessen road accidents.

“I hope that by the end of 2020, the statistics would not be as grim as the previous year,” he said.