LTO: Drug tests have kept over 6,000 drug users off the road in 2013

More than 6,000 applications for driver's licenses were rejected by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in the first four months of the year after the applicants tested positive for illegal drug use.

“Na-prevent natin itong mga nag-positive from being a risk to their fellow motorists,” Dr. Louie Miranda of the LTO Central Office told GMA News Online by phone Tuesday.

The LTO's data and statements in the last several days have directly contradicted claims by Sen. Tito Sotto, who has asserted that the mandatory drug tests for drivers' licenses are "useless" and "ineffective."

Sotto is the principal author of the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013, which scraps mandatory drug testing from the list of requirements needed to apply for a driver's license.

The LTO was caught by surprise by the cancellation of mandatory drug testing. "We had not heard any complaints about it," said LTO spokesman Jason Salvador, who added that the LTO was not informed beforehand of the change, which was inserted in the law under a "repealing clause."

In a press release, Sotto said mandatory drug testing for license applicants was “a waste of money for motorists as well as an ineffective requirement, citing data mined from the Department of Health and the Dangerous Drug Board.”

He added that the new law not only removes a “useless requirement but also allows motorists a respite from costly drug tests.” A drug test is about P300 and was previously required for a license renewal every three years.

According to Sotto's numbers, a measly 0.06% tested positive in the millions tested by the LTO from 2002 to 2010.

Salvador told GMA News that he does not know where Sotto got his LTO data and said that LTO officials were not consulted about the wisdom of scrapping mandatory drug testing.

Citing the LTO's latest data, Miranda said the 6,670 were applicants who have been "screened and confirmed and placed under alarm," or those who really tested positive for drugs after undergoing two drug tests, the first being the routine exam and the second done to confirm the results of the first exam.

Although the number represented only a small percentage of those who applied for a driver's license, it still showed that mandatory drug tests were effective in preventing drug users from becoming licensed drivers, Miranda said.

“Maliit siya pero ang punto is nakapag-prevent tayo ng more than 6,000 na applicants from getting their license or from renewing it,” he said.

For the previous year, the LTO issued more than 4.5 million driving licenses. Figures for the current year are not yet available.

LTO chief Virginia Torres maintained that the agency will continue requiring mandatory drug tests for applicants until the implementing rules and regulations for the new law have been formulated by the end of August.

"Drug test is preventive"

Gus Lagman, head of the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), also favors continuing the mandatory drug testing for those applying for a driver's license.

“The drug test is preventive. At least you're sure that a person is drug-free when he gets his license or when he renews it once every three years,” he said in a separate phone interview.

Senator Sotto, however, argues that the persistent danger in the streets shows that the drug tests have not been effective.

“The increasing number of vehicular accidents and road mishaps involving drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs refute the low positive results,” he said.

The senator explained that normally drug-addled applicants have rendered the screenings pointless by refraining “from [drug] usage during the period leading to the application for or renewal of their driver’s license.”

“The mandatory drug test has not served its purpose,” Sotto emphasized.

Instead, the Sotto authored R.A. 10586 will limit mandatory drug testing to drivers involved in traffic accidents to determine if they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The LTO's spokesman Salvador asserted that drug testing only after accidents would be too late for the victims. "Why not try to prevent accidents by making license applicants refrain from drug use even for a short period of time?" Salvador asks.

Lack of training

Miranda added that law enforcers might have difficulty detecting a driver who was using drugs due to lack of training.

“As of now, law enforcers are still not trained to spot drugged drivers. Mas madali ma-detect 'yung lasing. But for drugged drivers, hindi pa alam ng mga law enforcers kung paano sila made-detect aside from flagging them down to take a breath analyzer test,” he said.

Nevertheless, Lagman was confident that the new law would help minimize the number of road accidents in the country whether or not it revoked the mandatory drug testing.

“Malaking bagay 'yung law para ma-promote ang road safety dahil lumaki 'yung penalties for drunk and drugged driving,” he said.

Under the new law, drivers who are found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol face stiff penalties ranging from three months in prison and a fine of P20,000 to the perpetual revocation of the driver’s license and a P500,000 fine.

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has recorded 26,161 road accidents from January to May 2013. Of the number, 123 were fatal while 20,772 resulted in damage to property.

During the Senate deliberations for RA 10586 in January 2013, Senator Gregorio Honasan II cited data from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) showing that three percent of the 86,602 vehicular accidents recorded last year were drug or alcohol-related while 55 percent were reportedly due to driver error. — KBK/DVM/HS, GMA News