TOO MANY VIOLATORS: Traffic fines projected at over half a million pesos

SPEED CHECK. A traffic enforcer checks the speed of these vehicles on Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue, a traffic discipline zone in Mandurriao, Iloilo City. Drivers’ lack of discipline contributes to traffic congestion and causes vehicular accidents. PN PHOTO
SPEED CHECK. A traffic enforcer checks the speed of these vehicles on Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue, a traffic discipline zone in Mandurriao, Iloilo City. Drivers’ lack of discipline contributes to traffic congestion and causes vehicular accidents. PN PHOTO

ILOILO City – Fines from apprehended traffic violators at the Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue in Mandurriao district are projected to exceed half a million pesos. The Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) of the city government, however, is not happy.

The objective is not to rake in huge fines but to curb traffic violations by instilling road discipline, stressed PSTMO head Jeck Conlu.

As of Feb. 16, 2,438 apprehensions were made for various traffic violations along the 14-kilometer avenue, a pilot traffic discipline zone (TDZ) in the city where all traffic regulations are enforced strictly.

“The projected total amount of penalties, although some have been collected already, is P683,900,” said Conlu.

The most common traffic violations were illegal parking, road obstruction, disregarding traffic signs, jaywalking, and counter-flowing, he revealed.

The avenue, also known as the Diversion Road, as TDZ started on Jan. 16

Conlu, however, clarified that the goal of the TDZ is the promotion of road discipline among drivers and pedestrians and not raising money.

“TDZ will be successful kon mapanubo naton ang dakpanay,” he said.

“Given ‘ni iya that on the first one month of TDZ implementation mataas ang apprehension kay gina enforce ta pa lang strictly ang mga traffic rules and regulations,” he explained.

The Philippine National Police, Highway Patrol Group and Land Transportation Office are helping the PSTMO.

After the Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue, next to be made a traffic discipline zone is McArthur Drive from Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro district to Barangay Balantang.

“I want this scheme initially tried on the Diversion Road para mapakita nga pwede maobra ini,” said Mayor Jerry Treñas.

Like the Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue, McArthur Drive is also “problemado pirmi sa traffic because of lack of discipline,” he explained.

What are the traffic rules and regulations being enforced?

These include the speed limit ordinance, the ordinance against modified mufflers, points where to load and unload passengers, the law on the use of helmets and other body protective gears by motorcycle riders and the maximum number of back riders allowed, the law on the use of seatbelts, the law on the non-use of cellphones while driving and clearing of windshields from gadgets that directly distract the driver’s line of sight, among others.

Traffic enforcers are armed with, among others, breath analyzers to catch those driving while under the influence of alcohol and speed guns to catch drivers who are exceeding the speed limit.

Having a traffic discipline zone is one of the moves of the city government to ease traffic congestion and          curb road accidents. But its long-term plan is to have an intelligent traffic system (ITS) that former mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog proposed in 2017.

An ITS involves the use of closed-circuit television cameras capable of determining the speed of vehicles (if they are overspeeding) and of recording them. It would also entail the establishment of a command/monitoring center.

An ITS is projected to discourage drivers from disregarding traffic rules and regulations. It would also help law enforcers to easily identify and catch violators.

As proposed by Mabilog, the first phase of the ITS would be on the Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue because this highway is prone to vehicular accidents due to overspeeding drivers.

Phase II would be on the coastal road, Phase III on the McArthur Highway Drive going to the municipality of Leganes, Iloilo and Phase IV on the Circumferential Road going to Oton, Iloilo./PN

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