Early this week, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) suspended the driver’s license of each of the 671 erring motorists and summoned over 1,100 motor vehicle owners who failed to properly maintain their vehicles during the random roadworthiness inspections across the country.
LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II called the move “unprecedented” and said that the agency has “never really reached this level before” but it needs to be done to keep our roads safe.
This move should be the beginning of a long-overdue and necessary action. This sweeping crackdown should be a bold declaration that the era of tolerating reckless, entitled, and often dangerous motorists will finally come to an end, hopefully, soon.
These numbers were apprehensions done only during Holy Week, a time when roads out of the cities were clogged by the exodus of people going to the provinces. Yet in one week – 574 of the suspended licenses were linked to road accidents, while 97 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers tested positive for illegal drugs.
These are not minor infractions; they are indicators of a culture of disregard for road safety. The fact that these violations occurred in just one week makes the crackdown all the more urgent and justified.
For too long, motorists who treat traffic rules as mere suggestions have turned our roads into deadly battlegrounds. Road rage incidents have claimed lives, such as the high-profile cases of aggressive drivers attacking fellow motorists, often with tragic consequences. Meanwhile, poorly maintained vehicles frequently lead to breakdowns and accidents that endanger everyone on the road, from pedestrians to passengers. Add to that the presence of many motorcycle riders weaving in and out of traffic simply because the size of their vehicles make it possible to do so.
The government’s decisive action, spearheaded by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon and LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Mendoza, is a commendable step toward implementing order and imposing accountability. By suspending licenses and issuing show cause orders (SCOs), authorities are not only enforcing the law but also sending a clear message: road safety is a non-negotiable priority.
Dizon has vowed that the government will continue the campaign in the coming weeks to make the roads safer for all. His message to the public, that reckless and abusive drivers will lose their licenses, is the kind of no-nonsense stance that road safety advocates and ordinary commuters alike have long waited to hear.
Let’s not forget the viral case in La Union, where a bus driver ignored the pleas of his passengers to slow down. That the government revoked his license shows a zero-tolerance policy toward such arrogance and negligence. These acts of enforcement must be followed through consistently—not just for headlines but for real, lasting change.
The problem of reckless driving is not limited to blatant traffic violations. It is a symptom of a broader societal illness—an indifference to rules, a resistance to discipline, and a disregard for others. Discipline, after all, is not merely about punishment; it is about cultivating responsibility.
There is still a long way to go. Enforcement alone will not solve everything. Driver education, road infrastructure, and proper vehicle inspections must all be part of the equation. But this latest action is a strong, confident first step—and it deserves praise.
The crackdown on undisciplined drivers is not just about punishing bad behavior. It’s about saving lives. And in that mission, there is no room for compromise.
