Towed cars, vehicles without RFID slow down traffic at NLEX

Several cars broke down and had to be towed, while cash lanes on tollways experienced clogs due to the influx of motorists without RFID passing through the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) during Holy Wednesday.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Sandra Aguinaldo, motorists passing through NLEX from Holy Wednesdays to Maundy Thursday often range from 300,000 to 330,000 vehicles in a day.

“Unti-unti nang tataas ang ating volume hanggang ngayong hapon at mamayang gabi po. Bukas ay marami pa rin po starting madaling araw hanggang hapon,” said NLEX senior traffic manager Robin Ignacio.

Delays were experienced early afternoon on Wednesday due to a long line at cash lanes at the Balintawak toll plaza, which prompted the agency to increase the lanes from three to five.

At least 80% of vehicles passing along the expressway have RFIDs.

Gas station stopovers have also seen an influx of vehicles taking a break.

After the main toll plaza in Balintawak, the flow of vehicles becomes faster although there was a noticeable increase in volume.

“Sana po bago bumiyahe ay i-check ang condition ng kanilang sasakyan. Ganyan din po ang magda-drive, dapat po ay sapat na pahinga,” Ignacio said. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News