BAGUIO CITY – More disciplined drivers, road safety and lesser vehicular accidents are the expected results once the Land Transportation Office (LTO) issues a memorandum circular on new rules and regulation for driving schools and instructors.
Atty. Jessie C. Balagot, Acting Chief, Legal Division of LTO-CAR, in a preliminary consultation with owners and representatives of driving schools operating within the region said that all new applicants for student permits will be enrolling in their institution to attend a minimum of 15 hours classroom (theoretical) instruction covering all law and policies on traffic regulations and 6 hours practical driving instruction.
New standard requirements for the establishment and operation of a driving school must be followed.
A maneuvering site with a measurement of 14 meters X 14 meters must be established where the students undertake off-highway driving lessons, including the development of maneuvering dexterity prior to the major highway driving lessons.
Driving schools are required to establish a 24 square meter classroom equipped with close circuit TV. Each classroom must have audio/visual materials and display of updated set of traffic signs, signals and pavement markings as described in the manual of DPWH.
Under the draft memorandum, no driving school will employ a Driving Instructor without first passing the written examination given by LTO. The theoretical examination will be administered by the Training Service Division of the central office.
Atty. Balagot, emphasized that no new applicant of Student Permit can directly apply to any LTO district office without complying with the 15hour theoretical instruction and certificate of completion to an accredited driving school.
After securing a student permit, applicant can now continue with the practical instruction or driving lesson.
The proposed memorandum will be tackled once more in the clustered consultation on October 29, 2019 in Baguio City to be attended by driving school owners of Regions 1,2 and CAR.
Comments and suggestion will be collated and forwarded in Central Office for consideration.
By Joseph Cabanas
