The Land Transportation Office-Negros Occidental warned yesterday against minors driving motor vehicles.

This was after two minors were killed Monday when their motorcycle crashed into a parked truck at C.L Montelibano Drive, Bacolod City. They died at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital where they were brought for treatment.

Under Republic Act 4136, only minors with student permits are allowed to drive vehicles provided, however, that they are accompanied by non-professional or professional driver's license holders, LTO-Negros Occidental chief, Renato Novero said.

Minors caught driving vehicles without licenses, or without the guidance of non-professional or professional driver's license holder will be fined, Novero said.

Records from the Bacolod City Police Traffic Management Unit show that since January this year, 521 accidents were reported with 18 fatalities and 108 injured.

Most of the accidents were motorcycle-related and, in some cases, minors were involved, the police said.

Bacolod City Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz reminded motorists to be extra careful, be defensive drivers, and avoid drinking alcoholic liquors before driving.

De la Paz also reiterated his call to motorcycle drivers to always wear their crash helmets.

Meanwhile, a passenger died when the tricycle she was riding in collided with a Toyota Corolla at Lacson Street, Bacolod, at about 5:45 a.m. yesterday.

Traffic investigator Police Officer 2 Wilson Go said Jessa Taburnes of E.B. Magalona town, Negros Occidental died while being treated at the CLMMRH.

The driver of the tricycle, identified as Wilfredo Algarme, 56, of Homesite Subdivision, Bacolod and the driver of the Toyota Corolla identified as Enrique Gumayan Fuentebaja, 27, of Gardenville Subdivision, Brgy. Tangub are now in the custody of Police Station 2.

Investigation showed that the accident happened when the Toyota Corolla tried to overtake the tricycle.*APN

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