INSTALLATION OF EARLY WARNING DEVICES ON MOTOR VEHICLES

Pursuant to the Letter of
Instruction No. 229, Directing the Installation of Early Warning Devices
on Motor Vehicles and AO No. 1 of December 10, 1976 on the Rules and
Regulations Implementing LOI 229, as amended requiring motor vehicles to
be equipped with EWD, MC 92-146, MC 92-153, MC 95-219, Memorandum dated
15 August 1995 on EWD specifications, Memorandum dated 16 October 1995
on EWD and other related issuances, memoranda and circulars are hereby
reiterated or amended as follows:

I
USE OF EWD

1.         All
owners, users or drivers of motor vehicles shall have at all times in
their motor vehicles at least one (1) pair of EWD, one red and yellow.

2.         Whenever
any motor vehicle is stalled or disabled or is parked for 30 minutes or
more on any street or highway, including expressways or limited access
roads, the owner, user or driver thereof shall cause the EWD to be
installed at least four (4) meters away from the front and rear of the
motor vehicle stalled disabled or parked.

II
SPECIFICATIONS OF EWD

1.         The EWD should be triangular, collapsible reflectorized plates in read and yellow color.  The sides of which are at least 40 cms long and 5 cms wide.  The reflectorized panel should be backed by metal sheets and the stand should be metal.

2.         The
triangle must be visible even under adverse weather conditions at a
distance of at least 400 meters at high beam and it must lean slightly
backwards from five to ten degrees perpendicular to the roadway in order
to provide maximum visibility from its reflectorized sides.

3.         The lower edge of the reflectorized triangle shall be at least 7 cms. above the surface of the road.

4.         The
EWD shall have a weight of at least 1.25 kilos, concentrated at the
base and shall be designed that the EWD shall remain in place despite
air currents generated by fast moving vehicles in the area where it is
to be used.

5.         No
accreditation of any supplier and/or brand shall be enforced. Home made
EWD shall be honored provided the specifications are properly adhered
to.

III
PUBLIC INFORMATION DISSEMINATION

1.         All
Regional directors shall effect public information dissemination on the
specifications of the EWD and it being a requirement for registration.

IV
FINES AND PENALTIES

1.         No
motor vehicle, except motorcycles shall be registered by the Land
Transportation Office unless it is equipped with EWD herein described.

2.         Failure to install an
EWD whenever the motor vehicle is stalled or disabled along the
traveled portion of the street or highway shall be fined P300.00 and the
license of the driver shall be suspended for 30 days.

3.         For
failure to install EWD and such failure resulted in an accident, the
license of the driver shall be suspended for a period not exceeding two
(2) years of revocation of driver’s license depending on the
circumstances of the case.

V
PENALTY PROVISIONS

1.         Any
employee or official of LTO who caused registration of motor vehicle
except motorcycles/tricycles without EWD is liable to administrative
sanctions.

2.         Any official or employee of the LTO who violates any provisions of this Circular shall be dealt with administratively.

VI.

All Orders, Circulars, Memoranda inconsistent with this Memorandum Circular are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

VII
Effectivity

This Order shall take effect after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in the newspaper of general
circulation or submission of three copies hereof to the UP Law Center.

Strict compliance is hereby enjoined.

Adopted: 22 March 2002

(SGD.) ROBERTO T. LASTIMOSO
Assistant Secretary