THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) has ordered a preventive 90‑day suspension of a driver’s license and placed his vehicle under alarm status following a viral video showing him driving without a seatbelt and stepping out of the moving SUV to dance alongside it.
The footage captures the driver singing and dancing to the song Dati with three companions inside the vehicle, before hopping out of the open door to dance beside the moving car, then climbing back in. The incident has drawn widespread attention online, with social media users linking it to television personality Ian Red, though the LTO has not confirmed any identities and the clip shared publicly does not show the moment the driver exits the vehicle.
Both the driver and the registered owner of the SUV have been summoned to appear before the LTO Intelligence and Investigation Division on September 29 for a formal hearing. They are required to submit sworn statements and supporting documents explaining the incident, and to show cause why the driver should not be cited for failure to wear a seatbelt, reckless driving, and being declared an improper person to operate a motor vehicle. A finding of being “improper” could result in the suspension or permanent revocation of his driver’s license.
LTO Assistant Secretary Markus V. Lacanilao emphasized that while there is nothing wrong with enjoying oneself inside a vehicle, safety must never be compromised. “As a licensed driver, he knows his responsibility to wear a seatbelt, remain focused on driving, and follow all traffic laws,” Lacanilao stated. The investigation remains ongoing, and further action will be determined based on the evidence presented during the hearing.
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