MMDA approves proposed 60 km/h speed limit on EDSA

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has approved the proposal of presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte to enforce a 60 km/h speed limit for vehicles driving through EDSA.

A local newspaper reports that MMDA Chairman Emerson Carlos said that the enforcement of 60 km/h speed limit is only imposed along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City and Diosdado Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City. That’s because in recent years, the former has seen its share of fatal accidents, while the latter became known as an area where illegal drag racing frequently occurs.

But MMDA Traffic Discipline Office (TDO) Head Crisanto Saruca sees the proposed rule on a different angle.

“There is no danger of speeding on regular days because of the bad traffic, especially on rush hour mornings and afternoons, and even until the evening. When the government is able to achieve its target to decongest and manage the number of vehicles along EDSA, that’s the time you can fully enforce speed limit,” said Saruca.

On average, EDSA can handle around 160,000 vehicles on a daily basis. But the number of vehicles using it has increased as of late, which contributed to the long stretches of traffic congestion every day.