The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Thursday stressed the need for psychological tests for drivers who get involved in road rage incidents and other instances wherein they act “outside of normal behavior.”

Case in point: the driver who dragged a traffic enforcer on the hood of his car while attempting to escape apprehension in Taguig City last month.

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The driver’s license of the motorist is currently under preventive suspension while the LTO continues to hear his case.

LTO Chief Vigor Mendoza said the case is up for resolution next week.

“I want to make sure if he is penalized, and he’s allowed to drive again or continue driving, dapat psychologically fit ka rin,” said Mendoza in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

The SUV driver earlier told the media that he sped away, enforcer in tow, out of panic that he was going to be ganged up on by the motorcycle rider, which he had gotten into a road altercation with, as well as other people in the area. 

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But Mendoza said his explanation is worrisome.

“If nag-panic lang siya for that particular purpose, e kung panic siya nang panic? That’s something that we need to make sure that does not happen again. Before that license is given back or the privilege to drive is renewed, mag-psychological test ka muna,” he said.

According to Mendoza, the agency has been studying having a psychological test for erring drivers.

“We’ve worked with psychologists in coming out with a test that we can use in order to make sure na hindi lang siya physically fit to drive but also mentally and psychologically fit to drive… Pinapa double time ko na yan after all these in incidents,” he added.

But he clarified that this would not be required of those applying for a driver’s license.

Mendoza also said that the LTO wants to pattern the policy with that of other countries who are implementing such a test.

“We’re trying to parallel with other countries also that have already adopted this and see what the record is. Gumanda ba ang record? Nauulit ba?” he said.