Enough wake-up calls, let's see some action!

Many people said that the accident involving an EDC minibus and a truck, which killed 14 people including the drivers of both vehicles, should be a wake-up call for drivers, as well as the authorities in charge of traffic. It’s always like this. Every time there is an accident, whether there are casualties or not, people would always say the incident should be a wake-up call. How many wake-up calls do we need before drivers, public transport operators, the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board take action?

I live in the south and whether I pass by the South Road or the South Coastal Road, I am always afraid. No, make that very afraid. A lot of our drivers seem to have gotten their licenses without even knowing how to drive, and worse, without knowing traffic rules! Jeepneys and minibuses would shift lanes without signaling. These vehicles stop anywhere, too, even right in the middle of the road to load or unload passengers. Drivers of public transport also have this habit of racing each other to get passengers. Motorcycles and bicycles use the fast lane. Vehicles, big or small, just park anywhere! 

Aside from the perennial problem of drivers blatantly ignoring traffic rules, there is also this problem of traffic enforcers who play hide and seek in the streets. Mura’g tagolilong ba. Now you see them, now you don’t. Aren’t traffic enforcers supposed to be where they are supposed to be all the time? Take for example the sidewalk near the entrance of our office. During days when there are traffic enforcers around, you cannot see pedestrians waiting for jeepneys here, nor can you see jeepneys waiting for passengers. During days where there are no traffic enforcers around, however, pedestrians and jeepneys block the entrance to our parking lot. The same situation happens in Tabunok, Talisay. When there are traffic enforcers around during peak hours, the flow of traffic is smooth, tricycles are afraid of making U-turns anywhere and jeepneys stop only at designated areas. When there are no enforcers around, chaos takes over.

Then there is also this problem of barrio barrio in the enforcement of traffic rules in areas in Metro Cebu and the rest of the province. There seems to be a different set of traffic rules when you are in Mandaue, then another in Cebu, then another when you are in Talisay. The level of enforcement of traffic rules per city or municipality is also different. Enforcement is strict in Cebu City, especially when there are CITOM enforcers around but you can relax when you get to Talisay. A friend who drives a motorcycle once said that it is a must to wear a helmet when you are in Cebu City but you can take it off once you reach Talisay. Another friend also said that seatbelts are a requirement in Cebu City, too and not in other areas. Come on!

Our traffic problems are caused by ignorance of the laws on the part of drivers and laxity and disunity on the part of authorities to enforce traffic rules. There will always be drivers racing with other drivers to get to more passengers first. But accidents can be avoided if there are authorities who will watch out for these drivers and stop them. Accidents can be further avoided if these daredevils are stripped of their license to drive.

Traffic is a very complex problem. It involves a lot of people and needs the cooperation of all parties involved for it to work. I am not a traffic expert. I am even afraid to drive. But from where I am, I can clearly see the problems and the causes of these problems. I can see some solutions, too. There have been a lot of wake-up calls in the past. I think it’s time for actions.

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