Another bus hits Edsa barrier; speeding to blame

ANOTHER CITY  bus has crashed into the concrete road barrier at the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) on Monday, the third time such an accident occurred, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).  

In a statement, the agency denounced driver Jervin Mamac and operator MSJ Tours after its bus with conduction sticker no. U1 L782 crashed into several concrete barriers along Edsa-Santolan area, sending one sliding into the outer lane due to the force of the impact.

The crash, which was captured in another dashcam video on Monday and has since gone viral on social media, was a “gross violation of road transport rules and safety”, according to the DOTr.

“The posted video shows the MSJ Tours bus as it recklessly speeds along the Edsa Busway hitting a concrete lane separator barrier as it passed by,” the DOTr said.

Following the incident, the DOTr said both the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) have committed to investigate and issue show cause orders to both the operator and driver of the MSJ Tours bus.

In its show cause order, the LTO said the incident has resulted in violations of Section 27 (Improper Person to Operate a motor vehicle) and 48 (Reckless Driving) of R.A. 4136 otherwise known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.

Both Mamac and a representative of MSJ Tours have been summoned to a hearing at the LTO office in East Avenue, Quezon City on Wednesday and were directed to submit a written comment or explanation as to why Mamac’s driver’s license should not be suspended or revoked and why MSJ Tours should not be sanctioned.

The DOTr said it will not tolerate such incidents of “irresponsible and reckless manner of driving” and that the drivers and operators involved will face the appropriate sanctions.

In a message to reporters, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago, said the major cause of the bus crash, like other similar incidents in the past, was speeding.

“Hindi po makitid ang bus way dahil 50 kph [kilometers per hour] lang po dapat ang speed limit diyan. Kung susunod po ang mga drivers sa speed limit wala pong aksidente (The busway is not narrow because it has a 50 kph speed limit. If drivers would comply with that speed limit there would be no such accidents),” Pialago said.

Of the 550 buses that are authorized to ply the exclusive median bus lanes in Edsa, she said less than one percent have been involved in such an accident.

She added that speeding was unnecessary since the busway is already exclusive to buses.

MMDA Regulation No. 17-003, s. 2017 states buses and trucks should have a maximum speed limit of 50 kph in circumferential and radial roads in Metro Manila. (By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz)