The accident which occurred on November 4, 1954, which killed House of Representatives members Gregorio Tan of Samar and Lorenzo Ziga of Albay.

President Ramon Magsaysay urged Congress to establish a "specialized and dedicated" police unit to maintain road traffic safety across the Philippines.

However the traffic law enforcement powers of the patrol group was given to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and local government units (LGUs) some years later.

[3] As the Traffic Control Group (Trafcon), the unit was under the Philippine Constabulary.

The HPG furthermore also enforces driver's licenses and motor vehicle registration and regulations with regards to public carriers.