Duterte strict enforcement of drunk and reckless driving law

DAVAO CITY, Jan 7 (PIA) Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the police to strictly enforce the law against driving under the influenced of either alcohol or drugs.

Speaking during the command conference with the security sector, he said that once drunk drivers are arrested the police must not only ask for the license and let them go.

He said drunk drivers could just kill pedestrians along the way.

Duterte said drunk drivers must be brought to the Southern Philippines Medical Center where they are required to undergo intoxication test afterwards they must be put in jail.

“That is reckless driving.  You do not allow them to continue driving at night or else they would kill somebody,” he said.

Duterte stressed regardless of the presence of pedestrian lanes, motorists must yield to pedestrians.

He said that the reason by motorists not to stop because of the absence of pedestrian lanes is unacceptable.

Duterte said the best way to determine the culpability of motorists accused of drunk driving is to bring him to the government medical facility for a sobriety test.

He also vowed to provide legal assistance to families who sue respondents to reckless driving.

“The city government is morally and legally responsible in helping affected families in filing charges against reckless driving.  It is the duty of the city government to protect the people, “Duterte said.

He ordered the police to sue the driver of the pick-up truck which bumped a couple who was crossing a pedestrian lane at the corner of Roxas Avenue and C.M. Recto Street during the Holidays.

To encourage more arrests, Duterte offered the police a reward for every arrest made relative to drunk driving.

During the latest episode of the public affairs program, “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa,” the mayor showed several scenes of reckless driving, overspeeding and road accidents monitored by the Public Safety Command Center which prompted him to come up with the local ordinance setting the speed limit for motor vehicles on the city streets.  (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)