No clear end to EDSA busway Violations – guess how many apprehensions from Jan-May 9, 2024
On its part, the government has kept EDSA busway violation apprehensions steady and steadfast. That said, continuous apprehensions mean that violations are still being made and logged, and that makes for one truth: we have yet to see an end to motorists simply abiding by the rules and not traveling along the EDSA bus lane if they aren’t allowed to do so. From January to May 9, 2024, here’s how many apprehensions have been made so far.
DOTr-SAICT releases total number of EDSA Busway apprehensions to date
Photo: Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation
Let’s start with the small numbers, shall we? According to the Department of Transportation – Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT), on May 9, 2024, alone, 32 vehicles were apprehended in violation of the EDSA busway. 29 of these were motorcycles, 2 were either private or public vehicles, and 1 was either a government vehicle or an ambulance. Small, yes? “Only 29”, most would say.
But despite this rather small in-a-day total, 1,525 have already been apprehended from January 1 to May 9, 2024!
Photo: Metro Manila Development Authority
Curious as to the specific numbers? According to DOTr-SAICT, those apprehended for illegally using the EDSA busway were 595 motorcycles, 500 private and public utility vehicles combined, 20 government vehicles and ambulances combined, and 410 unauthorized buses and trucks combined.
“29 a day” may seem paltry and few, but that averages around the area of 357 apprehensions in a month. Don’t let the daily numbers fool you because this is a persistent problem, and vehicles and drivers of all sorts seem to still have a blatant disregard for a rule – a law – that’s been in place for a long time now. That is simply unacceptable.
Photo: Metro Manila Development Authority
For those who might still be confused or unaware, the MMDA has released a list of vehicles that can legally use the EDSA busway, and you can find our article on that information here. Simply put, if you’re not driving a bus (with a proper franchise and are allowed to traverse along the bus lane), if you’re on a motorcycle or in a private vehicle, then you simply do not belong along the EDSA busway.
Discipline starts with every single motorist, and while numbers like this might seem mundane, awareness is the first step to shaking many an erring motorist awake and having them avoid violations, tickets, fines, or worse, getting involved in an accident.
If you were in a position to rid the EDSA busway of unauthorized vehicles, what would you do, and how would you do it?
