LTO orders SUV driver to explain viral reckless driving along NAIAX

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a show cause order (SCO) against the driver of a sports utility vehicle who went viral for alleged reckless driving along the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway (NAIAX).

In a statement on Wednesday, the LTO cited a viral video which showed the SUV suddenly swerving from a lane leading to a toll gate to another lane, which almost led to a collision with another vehicle.

The SUV in question was then on the northbound lane of the NAIAX.

LTO chief and Transportation Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao ordered the issuance of an SCO against the SUV driver.

“Ang kaligtasan sa mga kalsada ay una nating prayoridad. Hindi tayo papayag na hayaang magdulot ng panganib ang mga walang ingat na pagmamaneho sa mga mamamayang Pilipino,” he said.

(Our first priority is to keep our roads safe. We will not allow reckless drivers to pose dangers to other Filipino citizens.)

He added that the issuance of the SCO against the SUV driver is proof of the LTO’s seriousness in enforcing traffic laws and regulations.

“Hinihikayat din natin ang lahat ng mga motorista na sundin ang mga tuntunin sa kalsada para maiwasan ang mga aksidente at mapanatili ang maayos na daloy ng trapiko,” Lacanilao said.

(We also encourage all motorists to follow traffic regulations to avoid accidents and maintain the orderly flow of traffic.)

The driver and the registered owner of the SUV were ordered to appear before the LTO’s Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) on East Avenue in Quezon City at 11 a.m. of January 28.

They should submit the original documents of the SUV, as well as a verified or sworn comment or explanation.

The verified comment should explain why they should not be held liable for administrative charges such as reckless driving; failing to use signals on starting, stopping, and turning; disregarding traffic signs; and being an improper person to operate a motor vehicle.

The driver’s license of the SUV driver was also preventively suspended for 90 days while the investigation is ongoing.

In addition, the SUV driver was told to surrender the driver’s license while the SUV in question was placed under an LTO alarm.

The LTO said the respondents’ failure to submit an explanation and the required documents would be considered a waiver of their right to be heard, and that the complaint would be resolved based on the evidence at hand. — JMA, GMA Integrated News