In a bid to promote responsible driving, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said that aspiring drivers will have to undergo a mandatory 15-hour training in accredited driving schools before they can secure a student driver’s permit.
The decision came following the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)’s report that around 12,000 drivers in Metro Manila committed an average of three traffic violations.
In 2019, a total of 377,429 traffic violators were apprehended by the MMDA from January to May via its no-contact apprehension.
In a Philippine Star report, the MMDA said that they apprehended 272,440 motorists for violating the yellow lane policy; 41,641 for disregarding loading and unloading zones; 20,070 for disregarding traffic signs; 12,604 for illegal parking and 11,588 for violating the number coding scheme during the first quarter of 2019.
Before getting behind the wheel, aspiring drivers have to apply for a student permit at the LTO as a prerequisite to securing a non-professional or professional driver’s license.
For non-professional, a person must have had the student’s permit for at least a month before applying for a driver’s license while those who are aiming to get a professional license have to train for five months in order to legally drive public utility vehicles.
