Manila, Philippines –  A neophyte councilor in Quezon City proposed an ordinance calling for the creation of motorcycle lanes on the city’s main thoroughfares and secondary roads in a bid to minimize mishaps and promote a safe road environment for the public.

Councilor Jose Mario Don S. de Leon of the city’s third district said the lanes, separated by yellow painted lines on the pavement, will point to the designated areas for four-wheeled motor vehicles and the motorcycles decreasing the chances of vehicle collisions.

Records at the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) disclosed that of the 1,802 vehicular accidents registered from August to December 2009, 30.3 percent involved motorcycles, tricycles and bicycles.

Due to the vast road network of Quezon City where seven major Metro Manila roads are located, De Leon said that putting motorcycle lanes is very vital to decrease road accidents involving two-wheeled vehicles to the minimum.

Among the major roads traversing Quezon City are Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon Avenue and Circumferential Road 5 (C-5).

Candy de Jesus, chief of the public information office (PIO) of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), said there was a significant drop in the number of motorcycle accidents in the first five months of 2010.

Despite the MMDA report, De Leon said that a concrete action such as designating motorcycle lanes will further prevent the incidence of motorcycle and other two-wheeled vehicle accident in the city’s roads.

Under the proposed ordinance which carries a P500 fine, the Engineering Department and the Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) shall be the partner agencies in implementing the ordinance if approved by the city council and signed into law by the mayor.