LTFRB suspends operation of jeepney in viral reckless driving video
At A Glance
- The reckless driving resulted in one of the passengers being thrown out of the passenger jeepney
- The LTFRB suspends the operation of the jeepney for 30 days
photo: LTFRB
A jeepney driver found himself jobless now after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) suspended the operation of the public utility vehicle (PUV) he was driving for turning a busy road in Quezon City as a location for his daredevil stunt.
And such offense is serious, according to LTFRB chairman Vigor D. Mendoza II, since his reckless driving resulted in one of the passengers being thrown out of the passenger jeepney on June 23.
Fortunately, the entire incident was captured in a dashcam video which helped the LTFRB identify the operator and became the basis of the issuance of a show cause order (SCO).
Public utility vehicles are neither built nor approved to operate for car racing. As PUV drivers it is always incumbent upon you to prioritize the safety of your passengers at all times,” said Mendoza.
He said PUV operators are also mandated to ensure the road worthiness of their units and to ensure that they do not employ reckless drivers.
Mendoza said the operator was already notified of the 30-day suspension through an SCO in relation to the incident involving a passenger jeepney heading to Cubao.
In the SCO, the jeepney operator was instructed to explain in writing why his unit’s authority to operate should not be suspended or cancelled over the incident.
The violations include failure to provide safe, reliable, and convenient public land
transportation service and employment of a reckless driver.
The operator was also directed to surrender the license plate of the passenger jeepney and subject his driver to a mandatory drug test and road safety seminar. The vehicle will also be subjected to road worthiness inspection.
The hearing is set for July 14 and part of the discussion is on the status of the passenger that fell from the jeepney and if assistance was extended.
“We will not tolerate this kind of reckless behavior of the driver and will make sure that he will learn his lesson from this incident,” Chairman Vigor.
He also expressed gratitude to the netizen who posted the dashcam video and urged others to do the same and road abuses in order for the LTFRB to immediately respond and act on the matter.
The LTFRB warned the operator of consequences if the summon is ignored, including a P5,000 penalty and revocation of the franchise.