[ DOTC DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 94-806, July 28, 1994 ]

GUIDELINES PROHIBITING THE INITIAL REGISTRATION OF RIGHT-HAND DRIVE (RHD) MOTOR VEHICLES



Section 27 of Republic Act 4136 otherwise known as the Land Transportation Traffic Code clearly states that the rule on driving is on the right side of the highway. As such, our country's highways and traffic control devices are constructed in accordance with this rule of keeping to the right lane meeting opposing traffic, and, as a consequence, the steering wheel of motor vehicles is required to be located at the left side of the vehicle in the interest of safety and security of life and property.

Representations were made in the past as regards safety of using RHD motor vehicles intended exclusively and strictly for "Private Use" resulting to the issuance of LTO Administrative Order No. 90-003 which allowed the registration of RHD motor vehicles. However, circumvention of the provision of this LTO AO was observed as the number of RHD vehicles registered "For Private" use were found to be actually operated "For Hire" resulting to the proliferation of this type of vehicle on the road. As a result, many vehicular accidents have been attributed to the inability of drivers of RHD motor vehicles to have a clear view of the road being traversed.

As a measure to deter such occurences, and consistent with the rationale behind the Amended Guidelines for the Importation of Used Trucks and Used Buses as approved by the Inter-Agency on Used Trucks and Engines (IAC-UTE) on 28 January 1994 and published on 10 February 1994, the following guidelines are hereby promulgated for the guidance and strict compliance of all parties concerned:

SECTION 1. All RHD motor vehicles, irrespective of gross vehicle weight, source and type, shall not be initially registered by any agency of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

SECTION 2. Excluded from this prohibition are RHD Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) of the "off the road" type as determined by the LTO (ie. slow moving, heavy duty, principally "off-road" vehicles).

SECTION 3. Any officer or employee of this Office found violating this regulation shall be dealt with administratively.

SECTION 4. All orders, circulars, and memoranda inconsistent herewith are hereby amended.

SECTION 5. This order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the Official Gazette or newspaper of general circulation.

Adopted: 28 July 1994

(Sgd.) PRIMITIVO C. CAL
Undersecretary