MMDA expands speed limit on 'killer highway'

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday expanded the 60 kilometer per hour speed limit on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City from Philcoa area to Doña Carmen Avenue.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the agency decided to expand the coverage of the speed limit on Commonwealth Avenue to further prevent road accidents.

“We have procured additional speed guns to aid our traffic constables in going after the speedsters," Tolentino said.

He added that there are plans to install more close-circuit television cameras along the so-called killer highway.

To date, the existing speed limit on Commonwealth Avenue only covers areas between Philcoa and Sandiganbayan/Batasan area.  Batasan to Doña Carmen Avenue is about 2.3 kilometers long.

Tolentino said they have been receiving reports that drag racers still use Commonwealth Avenue especially at nighttime.

"There are portions on Commonwealth Avenue that are 18 lanes wide so motorists tend to speed up," Tolentino added.

In 2011, Tolentino has introduced the speed limit scheme in Commonwealth Avenue following the spate of fatal road accidents in the area.

The speed limit scheme was later adopted on Diosdado Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City.

As of February 21, the MMDA has apprehended a total of 23,798 speedsters along Commonwealth.

Commonwealth Avenue, which spans from six to 18 lanes in both directions, is the widest highway in the country.