ARTICLE: Should the expressways’ speed limit be increased?

[ghosthunter]

Madam Aida! This article has been long awaited. Hopefully there would be some sort of positive action on this!

Should the expressways’ speed limit be increased?
By: Aida Sevilla Mendoza
Philippine Daily Inquirer
10:09 pm | Tuesday, May 8th, 2012


Driving on the world-class expressways of Luzon is a joy, especially on the elevated portion of the South Metro Manila Skyway where heavy cargo trucks and container vans are not allowed. Naturally, those driving high-powered and/or new cars are tempted to exceed the 100 km per hour speed limit for cars and wish that the speed limit would be increased.

While driving on the Skyway System (elevated and ground level), South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) can be fun, it’s no fun getting apprehended for overspeeding. A week or so ago I was a passenger in a car with a professional driver at the wheel when we were flagged down at that section of the northbound elevated Skyway where the traffic law enforcers set up orange pylons along the lanes and a tent in the curbside bay. The driver had been cruising at 120 kph most of the way.

The driver told me the following week that retrieving his license at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) headquarters in Quezon City cost him a total of P1,270 in penalties, which we earlier thought would amount to only P500 or so. Worse, he had to attend a seminar in a hot, overcrowded un-air conditioned room along with dozens of other erring drivers. One of these was an American expat who said he was apprehended for driving at 110 kph on the elevated Skyway.

The Skyway O & M Corp. (SOMCO) which operates and manages the South Metro Manila Skyway and the Manila Toll Expressway System Corp. (MATES) which operates the SLEx, began strictly enforcing the speed limits (100 kph for cars and jeeps, 80 kph for buses and trucks, 60 kph minimum for all vehicles) last March and apprehended 434 overspeeding motorists during the first four days of that month. Most of these were buses on the SLEx while at the Skyway System most were cars.

Like other motorists, I thought at first that overspeeding motorists were spotted by 43 Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed at the Skyway System. But like at the NLEx, speed radar guns monitor vehicles traversing the Skyway. The radar guns are held and operated by deputized Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) officers from an unmarked vehicle parked along the NLEx. At the Skyway, watch out for HPG officers who stay on the center island, pointing radar guns at oncoming vehicles.

The Skyway Patrol men are not authorized to apprehend overspeeding motorists although they coordinate with the HPG in enforcing traffic regulations. At the NLEx, the HPG officers radio ahead to their colleagues at the toll gates the description and license plate number of an overspeeding car so that 200 meters before the toll gate, the offending motorist can be apprehended.

Some motorists want the speed limit to be raised. They cite the higher speed limit for motorways (highways) in other Asian countries, such as Malaysia where it is 110 kph, Thailand’s 120 kph, China’s 110-120 kph and Hong Kong’s 110 kph. But as Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) president Gus Lagman says, we must remember that the most fuel-efficient speed range is 80-85 kph. You may reach your destination 10 or 20 minutes ahead of a slower driver if you maintain a consistent speed of 110 kph or 120 kph on the expressway, but think of how much fuel you have wasted and the bigger carbon footprint you have left.

Legislators who plan to increase the speed limit on expressways are advised to consult the tollway operators, research centers like the University of the Philippines-National Center for Transportation Studies (UP-NCTS), government agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Land Transportation Office (LTO) and other institutions that collect data on road accidents.

Lagman and AAP veep Johnny Angeles, who chairs the Road Safety Committee, suggest a variable speed limit similar to what is done in Singapore. In that city state, the speed limit varies, “As Sign Posted,” which means that traffic signs post varying speed limits—higher in segments where the highway is wider and has less traffic, lower in parts where the highway has only two lanes and is heavily congested.

For example, Lagman and Angeles opine that on the northbound NLEx from Balintawak to Tabang Junction, the 100 kph speed limit should be maintained. After Tabang up to San Fernando, Pampanga, traffic flow is lighter on the northward three-lane NLEx, so the speed limit may be increased to 110 kph.

Angeles suggests that a big sign announcing “Speed monitored by radar” should be posted together with the speed limit signs to remind motorists and prevent a feeling of entrapment among those caught overspeeding.

source: Should the expressways

[renzo_d10]

But as Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) president Gus Lagman says, we must remember that the most fuel-efficient speed range is 80-85 kph. You may reach your destination 10 or 20 minutes ahead of a slower driver if you maintain a consistent speed of 110 kph or 120 kph on the expressway, but think of how much fuel you have wasted and the bigger carbon footprint you have left.

Hindi naman lahat ng tao gusto maging matipid yung kotse when traversing the long stretches of our local expressways. Some would just want to be in their destination as early as possible, at yung 100kph speed limit natin ang naghhinder sakanila na magawa yun.

Increasing the speed limit to 120kph doesn't necessarily mean that all people would choose to be inefficient, hindi naman mandatory na kapag 120kph ang speed limit eh talagang babad ka dun, no. You still have the choice to stay on the "eco-range" and save fuel.

And yes, 100kph can be too boring for some which could possibly increase the risk of falling asleep behind the wheel because of too much boredom.

[dh0n]

AFAIK 100kph talaga speed limit sa mga expressway but still NLEX and SCTEX are giving motorist 20kph more...so bale if na radar gun ka ng 120kph dikapa overspeeding until you reach the 121kph and above mark...they will just enforce overspeeding at 121kph and above...

di ka naman perfectong tao to just maintain your speed at 100kph para bang may buffer ka until 120kph so pwedi mo laruin speed mo ng 100kph-120kph...

by the way a friend who works at NLEX as patrol saw many accidents na naputukan ng goma running at high speed at yun roll over mga sasakyan...

[renzo_d10]

AFAIK 100kph talaga speed limit sa mga expressway but still NLEX and SCTEX are giving motorist 20kph more...so bale if na radar gun ka ng 120kph dikapa overspeeding until you reach the 121kph and above mark...they will just enforce overspeeding at 121kph and above...

di ka naman perfectong tao to just maintain your speed at 100kph para bang may buffer ka until 120kph so pwedi mo laruin speed mo ng 100kph-120kph...

by the way a friend who works at NLEX as patrol saw many accidents na naputukan ng goma running at high speed at yun roll over mga sasakyan...

Prone talaga to rollover yung mga sasakyan with high center of gravity, like the Fortuner, Montero, APV(!), Avanza etc. kaya ang pinaka-safe lang talaga i-speed up aside from the sports cars ay mga sedan na hindi dilapidated.

[vinj]

Lagman and AAP veep Johnny Angeles, who chairs the Road Safety Committee, suggest a variable speed limit similar to what is done in Singapore. In that city state, the speed limit varies, “As Sign Posted,” which means that traffic signs post varying speed limits—higher in segments where the highway is wider and has less traffic, lower in parts where the highway has only two lanes and is heavily congested.

As a lot of had said before, this is quite the most sensible suggestion to managing speed limits.

[niky]

The issue is that we can't maintain even the minimal mandatory roadworthiness requirements for vehicles in this country, which is what necessitates the lower speed limit for trucks, buses and jeeps on the highway. While 120 km/h is not too high, in and of itself, too high a speed differential is not good.

[lazyfoot]

Depends on the situation and car. that's why other countries have dynamic speed limit and limit per vehicle type. but the current speed limit as it is now is just waaay too low. i can fall asleep with the current limit.

[jrn29]

hnggang 100 kph lang sa nlex ngayun
peru may makukulit pa rin na matutulin mag patakbo.

ako nag 140-150 ako kapag may kasabay lang ako na ganun din ang takbo :D
peru kadalasan 80-100 lang..

[vinj]

The issue is that we can't maintain even the minimal mandatory roadworthiness requirements for vehicles in this country...

This is what irritates me whenever i get into traffic because of a dilapidated vehicle (usually a truck or old sedan) breaking down on a bottleneck area. This happens always on the C5 Pasig flyover which is already narrow to begin with.

Are the expressways strict in apprehending vehicles in poor condition?

[Noel Salisipan]

...Are the expressways strict in apprehending vehicles in poor condition?

Nope, not strict!

Basta may plaka at mga ilaw lusot mga yan. Hindi naman ganun kahigpit sa e-way. Speed limit nga e hindi maipatupad ng even 60% of the time e paano pa yung ibang rules!?

In general, ok lang 100kph. Pero sa mga car na 3yrs old & below, boring yan. Sa national road nga na very light ang traffic kaya ang 140kph, expressway pa kaya na multi-lane!