Lawmaker bats for higher speed limits on expressways

A lawmaker at the House of Representatives is pushing for a higher speed limit on the country's expressways.

In filing House Bill (HB) 4089, Ilocos Sur First District Representative Ronald Singson said that passenger cars and motorcycles on expressways should have a speed limit of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) while for trucks and buses, 120 kph.

Singson wanted to amend the Republic Act 4136 (commonly known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code), saying that it is already outdated and “needs revising.”

According to the lawmaker, since the law was passed in 1964, “so much has changed in terms of infrastructure, transportation, and technology.”

“For instance, Republic Act 4136 does not include in its classification the class of controlled access highways or expressways. Thus, the allowable speed limit for such class of roads is not specified. Moreover, the law applies to vintage vehicles which lack safety features that modern vehicles now have,” the congressman — who is also vice chairman of the House Committee on Public Works and Highways — said.

He said that with the absence of uniform regulations specified under the present law, the use of the expressways is not maximized.

 The proposal is still at the Committee on Transportation since August 31 last year.

Currently, the majority of expressways under Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation and San Miguel Corporation are imposing a speed limit of 100 kph on cars and motorcycles and 80kph on trucks and buses. However, the speed limit for the Skyway system is around 60-80 kph (depending on the portion of the road).

In addition, the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, which allows motorcycles with engines below 400 cubic centimeters, advised riders to follow the 40-60 kph limit.

Photos from Ruben Manahan IV, Ronald V. Singson Facebook page

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