LTO XII starts stricter vetting for driver’s license applicants
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) has tightened the screening process for the issuance of driver’s licenses in a move to curb the rising cases of road crashes in the area.
LTO-12 Director Macario Gonzaga said Monday he directed district offices to properly examine or assess the awareness of new applicants for driver’s licenses on various traffic-related regulations.
Gonzaga said they implemented the move ahead of the release of new LTO regulations on the application and issuance of new licenses.
“There will be major changes coming up with the application process to make sure that only those deserving will be issued with driver’s licenses,” he said in a radio interview.
New driver’s license applicants are currently required to undergo written examination on traffic rules and regulations as part of the process. Applicants of student permits only need to submit medical and birth certificates.
But once the agency implements the new regulation, Gonzaga said applicants will need to undergo 15 hours of mandatory training from driving instructors accredited with the LTO and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
He said the new rule aims to discouraged prospective drivers from getting lessons through family members, relatives, and friends before applying for student permits.
“We will be stricter, especially in the issuance of student permits. Applicants will be required undergo theoretical assessment before they get one,” he said.
Gonzaga said studies showed that majority of the road crashes were caused by human error and reckless driving. He said these can be addressed by having more drivers who are properly educated and assessed on safety or defensive driving and traffic regulations.
The agency’s data on vehicular road crashes were not immediately available, but Gonzaga noted that incidents involving motorcycles have been on the rise.
In this city, the city police’s traffic management unit recorded around 2,000 vehicular road crashes last year, with about half involving motorcycles.
A total of 41 deaths from road crashes were reported in the city in 2019 due to reckless driving and human error. (PNA)