'Todo na 'to': LTO says crackdown vs e-bikes, e-trikes on major roads starts Dec. 1
E-bikes, e-trikes, and tricycles are seen passing by along Recto Avenue in Manila on Saturday, April 13. (MB file photo)
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) would rather face the anger of owners and e-bikes and e-trikes than compromise the safety of the majority of road users, the agency chief said amid reports of massive crackdown on major roads starting next week.
LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao said the decision to impound all the e-bikes and e-trikes that they would chance upon in major thoroughfares will stay as he emphasized the danger they posed to other motorists and road users.
“We already anticipated that a number of our kababayan will be angry. But our priority right now is not only the safety of the owners and passengers of these e-bikes and e-trikes but also other road users,” said Lacanilao.
Motorists have been raising concerns of the presence of e-bikes and e-trikes, arguing that their riders have no driver’s license, and therefore, have no road safety education and training.
Several fatal and serious road crashes were reported before involving e-bikes and e-trikes.
In the provinces, netizens also uploaded various videos of children driving e-bikes and e-trikes along national highways.
In a Senate hearing, the LTO revealed its plan to apprehend and impound e-bikes and e-trikes along major roads starting Dec. 1 this year.
Those caught in secondary roads will be issued warnings at first as local government units will be given five days to inform their constituents of this new policy.
Lacanilao said they will conduct an information drive, as part of their dissemination efforts, to inform e-bike and e-trikes operators about this new regulation.