(NAR) VOL. 24 NO. 2 / APRIL - JUNE 2013
Whereas, for the first quarter of this year, the MMDA has recorded at least 1,512 vehicular accidents involving heavy equipment which injured 268 persons and killed 12,7 of which were pedestrians;
Whereas, there has been a recent spate of accidents involving cement trucks, which on account of their sheer size, weight, and high center of gravity, caused serious and fatal accidents involving innocent civilians;
Whereas, a cement truck on the roadway can create serious risks for traffic and pedestrians, risks far different and more serious from having smaller vehicles on the road;
Whereas, cement truck accidents are caused either by human error, driver inexperience, lack of safety training, driver intoxication, failure to obey traffic laws, or other elements like bad weather, improperly secured cargo loads, poor road conditions, or vehicle equipment failure;
Whereas, cement truck drivers are usually in a rush to reach the construction sites when they are carrying wet cement and this situation raises the risk the cement truck poses on other road users;
Whereas, drivers of passenger vehicles should also realize that cement trucks are unstable and difficult to maneuver, that their drivers have blind spots and poor line of vision, and that cement trucks have a high center of gravity, therefore making them susceptible to rolling over while turning;
Whereas, the general public should also be made aware of the dangers posed by cement trucks and should have the necessary warning and precaution in order keep a safe distance away from cement trucks to avoid being involved in accidents;
Now therefore, pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 7924, it is hereby ordered the following:
(SGD.) ATTY. FRANCIS N. TOLENTINO
Chairman