Ignorance of road rules

Atty. Jerome G. Neri
The Scrutineer

EVERY motorist is a menace to every other motorist. This is how I see motoring in the Philippines. Our roads are filled with ignorant motorists all of whom think they are doing the right thing.

I am certain that close to 100 percent of all our motorists have not read a single provision of Republict Act (RA) 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code. Basic traffic rules are in this law, basic rules that very few motorists know about. The ignorance of these rules causes accidents and road rage where all the parties involved believe they are correct.

Our roads have correct road markings painted on them. There are proper traffic signs and we have traffic lights, yet our roads are in complete chaos, as if the markings and signs do not exist. We have motorcycles in the pedestrian lanes, cars making U-turns crossing the double yellow line, overtaking on a solid yellow line, cars in the middle of two lanes, etc.

Ask randomly any motorist if they have read and studied the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals. It will be difficult to find one who has. Not understanding the meaning of the road signs and signals could be the cause of the chaos.

In an effort to put order, our government resorts to hazardous, stupid solutions. For instance, we have mini islands to prevent cars from going out of their lanes. In Mandaue City going to Marcelo Fernan Bridge, they separate the inner and outer lane with a divider made of rope, with a no left turn sign between the inner and outer lane, the said sign being intended for those in the outer lane. If you are in the outer lane you are not allowed to turn left with or without the sign. What the sign does is confuse the motorists in the inner lane.

I checked out the driving schools and they offer packages ranging from two hours to 10 hours of lessons. What they teach really is the operation of a motor vehicle, nothing about driving courtesy, rules, and regulations as provided by law. R.A. 4136 and the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals cannot be taught and explained in 10 hours.

The long term solution would be to include motoring as part of the curriculum in high school. The students need not be taught how to drive a motor vehicle, but what is important is even before they learn how to drive, they already know what to do and what not to do, and they will be familiar with the meaning of various traffic and road signs.

This will be a good step for the country to start having responsible motorists. Moreover, with such a curriculum, we will have better professional public utility drivers, and being a high school graduate can be made a requirement to be a professional public utility driver.

As for the short term, the LTO, together with car and motorcycle dealers, should start an aggressive information campaign for the current license holders.

CORRUPTION. For about a year now, the Cebuano motoring community has been terrorized by the most corrupt Highway Patrol Group ever seen. It is general knowledge that they have been extorting money from motorist, especially those with expensive cars.

They would randomly stop a nice looking car, without probable cause, perform an illegal search, fishing for anything that may qualify as an infringement. While doing the search and asking for documents, they treat the motorist as if he or she is a criminal.

If they find something, they threaten to seize and impound your car unless you immediately negotiate. Once you let them impound your car, they do not advise you of your rights or let you know your remedies. Instead of protecting the innocent motorists from criminals they are treated like criminals.

Now these men in uniform are the primary suspects in the killing of Atty. Noel Archival. Apparently, Atty. Archival was handling cases against them and had good knowledge of their modus in extorting money from motorists. They were going to be exposed for the thieves they are that they had to silence him.

Thank god for the National Bureau of Investigation in doing their job to protect the citizens in investigating these rogue men in uniform. We need cops who protect us, not steal from us.