Keep off roads between 4-7 PM 

when most accidents happen

TAGBILARAN CITY, January 31 (PIA)-- Keep off the roads between 4 in the afternoon to 7 in the evening: most of the traffic related incidents (TRI) caused mostly by undisciplined drivers happen in these times. 

Police data analysis on the traffic incidents, taking into consideration the times when most incidents happen show that in 2017, a total of 159 traffic related incidents happen between 4-5 PM, 182 between 5-6 PM, 180 between 6-7 PM and 125 between 7-8 PM. 

The data, which newly installed Bohol Police Chief PSSupt Angeles Geñorga brought to the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) also showed that being out in the streets between 7 to 8 is equally risky. 

In 2017, traffic related incidents that happened between 7 in the morning to 8 in the morning reached 108 cases, while between 8-9 AM, 88 incidents have been recorded. 

PSSupt Geñorga also reported that even if one is not on any motor vehicles, he is not safe from accidents. Sixty two cases of traffic related incidents involved accidents in pedestrian crossings. 

Sitting in the top six among the causes of traffic related accidents are over speeding at 309 cases, premature overtaking at 257, improper turns at 246, aggressive driving at 201, driving under the influence of liquor at 197 and untrained drivers at 118. 

Supt. Geñorga also noted in his rounds to the police stations in Bohol that there are a lot of young people driving. 

In his report to the PPOC, Geñorga also showed that 63 traffic incidents involved teen-age drivers, which could also mean in great part as unlicensed young drivers. 

While several drivers blame the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for its issues with the regulation on driving and the registration of vehicles which the agency could hardly do without reliable internet connection, this week, the LTO finally rolled on the printing of plastic driver's licenses with five year validity. 

Many believe this would slowly untangle the mess at the LTO and allow them to soon work on their backlogs so they can ultimately go out of the office and man the streets. 

As this went on, Governor Edgar Chatto who sits with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) at the PPOC, has aired his concern over the traffic related incidents which has dragged Bohol's leap as a peace full province ideal for business and pleasure. 

At the recent PPOC, Gov Chatto has pushed to request the LTO to give Bohol more slots for police traffic deputies who can help the LTO man the streets and keep them from unlicensed drivers and unregistered vehicles. 

This should help curb on the traffic incidents, PPOC members logically assumed. 

But, with a new regional chief, the LTO, through regional director Victor Emmanuel Caindec issued office Order VCC-2018-001 informing all heads of LTO Officers and Deputized Agents and concerned personnel of a revocation of the deputation authority effective January 25, according to LTO Information Officer Florencio Balazuela. 

The revocation was to allow the conduct of a full audit and review of the performance of the deputized law enforcers. 

The revocation also directs all deputized agents to return and account all Temporary Operator's Permits (TOP), impounding receipts of motor vehicles and other deputation orders to the LTO Chief of Operations Division within 24 hours. 

Balazuela could not tell until when the revocation of the deputation would be in effect. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

LTO Regional Director Victor Emmanuel Caindec accompanies LTO Asec Edgar Galvante during the recent rollout of the 5 year validity licenses in Tagbilaran. The LTO Backlog in the licenses and registration processes could have contributed to the reluctance of drivers to get driving licenses and be denied of the proper education and driving courtesies. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)