The new bus lane proposed by MMDA along the 12.4 kilometer long Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City to bring down the 57% statistics of accidents along this widest highway in the country found adherence in Rep. Winnie Castelo who represents this second legislative district.
“I find it commendable that the MMDA has initiated the installation of more CCTV cameras in addition to only three cameras so far installed for the purpose of monitoring the flow of traffic, recording violations committed by motorists, and bringing down number of road mishaps”, Castelo says in a statement.
It will be recalled that in response to an earlier vehicular accident involving a speeding bus that rammed the Pajero and killed its passengers, the Quezon City solon moved for a well-integrated plan to make the whole stretch of Commonwealth Avenue, otherwise known as ‘killer highway’ as an ‘Accident-Free Zone’. “This will require the help and cooperation of homeowners associations, private individuals and organizations, and concerned government agencies”, Castelo says.
“By making bus drivers and other motorists aware that CCTV cameras are placed in strategic areas, they will be compelled to follow road safety and courtesy. More importantly, since another lane will be dedicated for buses in this 10 to 18 lane highway with concrete separator, then this will effectively prevent if not totally stop overtaking or excessive lane-changing which are the major reasons for deaths and injuries from vehicular accidents based on a UP transport study”, Castelo further explains.
According to the lawmaker, if MMDA can afford to put up 25 cameras along EDSA then, it can also increase the CCTV cameras along Commonwealth Avenue proportionately at least to compensate for the limited footbridges put up along the entire Commonwealth Avenue of only 4 footbridges, all in all.
“Let us make Commonwealth Avenue a friendly highway and an accident-free zone in this part of Quezon City”, Castelo finally quips. 30
