Eat and be merry, but do not drink and drive.
This was the stern reminder of Land Transportation Office chief Vigor Mendoza amid the Christmas parties and holiday get-togethers.
“There are a lot of last-minute Christmas parties and good time with friends and co-workers. If we can avoid drinking, let us do so. If we cannot avoid drinking, let us just commute,” Mendoza said.
Apart from the probability of getting caught for drunk driving,Mendoza said what is more scary is the possibility of figuring in a road accident that could also endanger other road users.
The LTO chief’s warning came on the heels of the directive of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista to ensure the safety of all road users as the number of vehicles is expected to increase during the Yuletide season.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, for its part, is suspending the implementation of the number coding scheme on Dec. 25 and 26, and on Jan. 1., which were declared holidays.
On those dates, vehicles with license plates ending in 1 and 2, and 3 and 4 covered by coding every Monday and Tuesday can travel on the main streets of Metro Manila during the coding hours.
Records showed that traffic volume on major thoroughfares, especially along EDSA, rose 15 to 20 percent between November and December.
“No matter where the destination is this Christmas, always remember: plan the trip, obey traffic laws, and drive carefully,” said MMDA acting chairman Romando Artes.
According to the World Health Organization, some 1.3 million people die in road accidents around the world every year, while between 20 million to 50 million are injured, including injuries that result in permanent disability.
In the Philippines, at least 12,000 Filipinos die every year as a result of road accidents.
“To our motorists, always remember that you have a spouse whom you promise to grow old with, children who still depend on you, and family members who are waiting for you in your homes,” Mendoza said.