As a deterrent to road accidents, Quezon City authorities Sunday warned motorists of stiff fines and possible jail terms if they fail to switch on their headlights to the appropriate brightness even during the stop signal.

Councilor Victor Ferrer Jr. of the first district of Quezon City reminded the public of ordinance number SP 1852 S 08 compelling drivers of both private and public utility vehicles (PUVs) to turn their headlights on from 6 pm to 6 am the following day as a precautionary measure against vehicular accidents.

In a recent meting with the local police, Ferrer asked Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Elmo San Diego to instruct his men to strictly enforce the ordinance to ensure public safety on major roads, highways and inner streets of the city.

Aside from reckless driving, blurred road visibility worsened by turned off or unserviceable headlights of motor vehicles were traced to be one of the major causes of road accidents. For widened major thoroughfares like Commonwealth Avenue, Ferrer said that it is important for the headlights to be turned on from 6am to 6 pm to allow the drivers a clear view of the roads especially on intersections and areas near pedestrian crossings.

Motorists acknowledged the ordinance but at the same time scored local government units (LGU) for their failure to regulate the posting of advertisements and political tarpaulins virtually engulfing the road and informative signs.

In some cases, supporters of candidates vying for local and national government positions even install the tarpaulins and posters of political aspirants in areas blocking the motorists’ view of the traffic signals.

A jeepney driver plying the Cubao-San Mateo route complained that the law is for everyone to follow citing the partiality of police and traffic enforcers for picking on them while letting other law-breakers off the hook.

“Sang damukal ang tarpaulin ng mga politico ditto sa Aurora Blvd. Tignan mo yang nasa kantong yan ng Cambridge St., West Point St. and Annapolis St. Sagabal ang mga yan at maituturing na road hazard,’’ the PUV driver complained.

He urged the public not to vote for candidates conducting premature campaigning in the guise of posting public greetings and messages saying that they should be role models instead of law breakers.

In a bid to lessen road casualties, Ferrer appealed to motorists to strictly adhere to traffic rules and regulations while remind pedestrians to use the overpasses and the underpasses in crossing the streets for their safety and convenience.

He reiterated his call for drivers to exercise their sense of patriotism by being law abiding citizens saying that ordinance no. SP 1852 S 08 prohibits motorists from turning off their lights even for reason of slow traffic movement.

“Hindi uubra na patayin ang headlght ng mga sasakyan kahit na mabagal ang takbo ng sasakyan o kahit nakahinto ang sasakyan kung nasa red and traffic light. Dapat bukas ang mga ito pero hindi dapat nakakasilaw ang mga ito sa ibang motorists,’’ Ferrer noted.