DOTr implements drug testing, limits driving hours to boost road safety

On Monday, May 5, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon announced new measures to address recent deadly vehicular crashes following a string of accidents that made Filipinos no longer feel safe on the roads.

The DOTr will implement mandatory drug testing for public utility vehicle drivers every 90 days with assistance from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and reduce maximum consecutive driving hours from six to four with required reliever drivers for long-haul trips exceeding four hours.

Dizon emphasized stricter enforcement of roadworthiness checks and called for more rigorous testing and proper education for large vehicle drivers, noting current facilities often allow applicants to pass easily through bribery.

The DOTr is also pushing for the full implementation of Republic Act 10916, mandating speed limiters on PUVs, and supporting a proposed measure creating a Public Transport Safety Board to institutionalize safety reforms.

Dizon acknowledged that there are crucial lapses in tests for the license application of drivers and called for genuine and strict enforcement by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and LTO.