Lawmaker wants higher speed limits on expressways

A lawmaker has filed a proposed measure seeking to increase the speed limits on the country’s expressways, Tina Panganiban-Perez reported Thursday on “24 Oras."

Ilocos 1st District Representative Ronald Singson said there is a need to adjust the maximum speed limits on the toll roads as the current standards are based on laws enacted in 1984.

Singson wants to increase the current speed limit of 80 kilometers per hour (kph) for buses to 120 kph and the maximum speed limit for buses and other vehicles from 100 kph to 140 kph.

“The safety features of the vehicles now provide that it can go faster and also safely...The aim of the bill is to introduce an optimal safety speed in certain areas of the expressway,” he said.

He also said he already tried to drive at a speed of 140 kph on an expressway from Balintawak to Pangasinan.

“With a speed limit of 100kph, siguro mga 3.5 hours 'yon. Pero there’s one time nagka-emergency kami, biniyahe namin yon ng 140kph 'yung whole stretch, gabi. It only took us two hours,” he added.

(It took 3.5 hours with a speed limit of 100kph but we drove at 140 kph one time due to an emergency and it only took two hours for us to cover the whole stretch.)

Several government agencies, including the Land Transportation Office (LTO), expressed support for the proposed bill but the agency said stricter road safety measures should also be implemented to ensure the security of motorists.

“If it will be set to 140kph or 120 kph, our concern in the agency is that we enact stricter rules as to road safety lang po,” said LTO official Zoj Daphne Usita-Angustia.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said a number of expressways are designed based on the guidelines set in 1984.

“While we recognize mobility as the primary intent of increasing the speed, we need to recognize also the safety component of the road,” DPWH Bureau of Quality and Safety Assistant Director Jonathan Araullo said.

For its part, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) also said that skyways are also part of tollways.

“There are certain areas of our expressway like the skyway, wherein the lanes are narrower and the speed limit of 140 might be too fast in that area,” SMC AVP for infrastructure Melissa Encanto-Tagarda said.

Under the proposed bill, local governments have the authority to adjust the speed limits on expressways under their jurisdiction. The Department of Transportation may also change the limit on portions outside of urban areas, as well as bridges, and curved roads. — Sundy Locus/BM, GMA Integrated News