LTO summons viral trike driver for counterflow, taunting other drivers

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a show cause order (SCO) against a tricycle driver who went viral for executing a counterflow maneuver and even taunting other motorists.

In a statement, the LTO said it also imposed a 90-day preventive suspension on the driver’s license of the tricycle driver.

 “Ang paggawa ng counterflow at pag-uugali na walang disiplina at respeto sa kalsada ay hindi lamang labag sa batas kung di pati na rin isang pagbabalewala sa kaligtasan ng lahat. Hindi tayo papayag na magkaroon ng mga driver na itinuturing na biro ang mga batas trapiko at nang-aasar pa sa ibang mga gumagamit ng kalsada,” said LTO chief and Transportation Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao.

(Executing counterflows, undisciplined behavior, and lack of respect for others on the street is not just against the law, it is also a disregard for everyone’s safety. We will not let these kinds of drivers who treat traffic laws as a joke and even taunt other road users.)

“Ang LTO ay determinadong pigilan ang ganitong uri ng pag-uugali – bawat isa sa ating kalsada ay may karapatan sa ligtas at maayos na daanan,” he added.

(The LTO is determined to put an end to these kinds of attitudes – everyone on the road has the right to a safe and orderly street.)

The LTO’s issuance of the SCO and preventive suspension stemmed from a viral dashcam video of a motorist, which showed the tricycle driver executing a counterflow, a violation of traffic regulations.

The tricycle driver was seen on video taunting the motorist who recorded the dashcam video.

In the SCO, the LTO compelled the owner and the driver of the tricycle to present themselves before the LTO’s Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) on January 22 at 10 a.m.

“Kailangan nilang magsumite ng verified explanation kung bakit hindi sila dapat patawan ng administribong kaso tulad ng reckless driving, obstruction of traffic, driving against traffic, duty to have a license, compulsory registration of motor vehicles at kung bakit hindi dapat suspendihin ang lisensya ng driver sa pagiging improper person to operate a motor vehicle,” the LTO said.

(They should submit a verified explanation why they should not face administrative cases such as reckless driving, obstruction of traffic, driving against traffic, duty to have a license, compulsory registration of motor vehicles. And why the driver’s license should not be suspended for being an improper person to operate a motor vehicle.)

The driver’s license of the tricycle driver was placed under a 90-day preventive suspension while the tricycle was placed under an LTO alarm while the investigation is ongoing.

The LTO warned that it will resolve the case based on the evidence at hand if the respondents fail to attend the hearing or submit a verified explanation. — JMA, GMA Integrated News