The pedestrian lane law
This post was made several years ago re Sec 42 of RA 4136 (or the LTO law) This refers to the right of way of pedestrians in designated walk way or pedestrian lane. My experience on this law is (just be careful)
1. The vehicles especially MC do not slow down a bit on pedestrian lane. They think they have
the right of way if they are on the highway;
2. The pedestrian lane I am talking about is near an intersection where there is a traffic light. Even
when the signal is stop, the vehicles will not slow down nor stop;
3. It does not matter if they see you have white hair.
How sad that laws in our country are disregarded and disrespected. Short of having anarchy. In a country where is a constitution, so many laws being passed, a 200,000 strong police force with force multipliers from Barangay. So many laws so huge bureaucracy. But do we have order?
The mayor of this town was killed at the same highway topic of this post, when a vehicle ran over him. It that can happen to our mayor, what about ordinary citizen.? What are the PUSO officers doing.??
Excerpts, repost of the article
video of woman crossing a pedestrian lane in Bulacan being hit by two speeding motorcycles caught my interest. Indeed, many motorists, MC and other MV disobey disregard the pedestrian lane. They forget that they too sometimes become pedestrians. In our town, right in front of the municipal building, motorists do not stop at pedestrian crossing lane. An elderly was hit by a speeding tricycle near a bakery pedestrian lane. The victim was able to get up, was brought to hospital where he was declared out of danger but died later during the day
WHO identifies the pedestrian, ,the bikers and even the most vulnerable entities to traffic accidents. 50% of deaths occur among those vulnerable entities From WHO Road Traffic Injuries report (The video says in the Philipppines this is 9/10!)
What can be done?
1. Driver education (like this one) The trouble is one can easily get drivers license here at LTO even without taking the exams; Republic Act 4136 enjoins motorists to yield to pedestrians when approaching pedestrian lanes. (The traffic code of the Philippines ) These laws are important for road safety.
From LawPhil
2. Those who have MC or other vehicles are kings of the road - mayabang and will regard other entities on the road as piece of meat, a future road kill.
3. Traffic enforcement - If the traffic enforcers stop the vehicles at pedestrian lane, issue tickets, and or send those who violate the traffic law should be sent on seminars The trouble is in the said law, while there are penalties, (and which are very light and addressed to the timeline of the passage of the law the 1960s) there are no penalties for the violation of section 42 c of the said law. No wonder the traffic enforcers are helpless to enforce a tooth less spineless law. No wonder majority of motorists ignore the pedestrian lane crossing since they are unenforceable anyway, and so too pedestrians, (anyway the motor vehicles will just ram them at the pedestrian lane) So buwis buhay na lang anywhere it is convenient)
What can be done?
WHO identifies the pedestrian, ,the bikers and even the most vulnerable entities to traffic accidents. 50% of deaths occur among those vulnerable entities From WHO Road Traffic Injuries report (The video says in the Philipppines this is 9/10!)
What can be done?
1. Driver education (like this one) The trouble is one can easily get drivers license here at LTO even without taking the exams; Republic Act 4136 enjoins motorists to yield to pedestrians when approaching pedestrian lanes. (The traffic code of the Philippines ) These laws are important for road safety.
From LawPhil
Section 42. Right of way.
(a) When two vehicles approach or enter an intersection at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right of way to the vehicle on the right, except as otherwise hereinafter provided. The driver of any vehicle traveling at an unlawful speed shall forfeit any right of way which he might otherwise have hereunder.
(b) The driver of a vehicle approaching but not having entered an intersection, shall yield the right of way to a vehicle within such intersection or turning therein to the left across the line of travel of such first-mentioned vehicle, provided the driver of the vehicle turning left has given a plainly visible signal of intention to turn as required in this Act.
(c) The driver of any vehicle upon a highway within a business or residential district shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing such highway within a crosswalk, except at intersections where the movement of traffic is being regulated by a peace officer or by traffic signal. Every pedestrian crossing a highway within a business or residential district, at any point other than a crosswalk shall yield the right of way to vehicles upon the highway.
(d) The driver of a vehicle upon a highway shall bring to a full stop such vehicle before traversing any "through highway" or railroad crossing: Provided, That when it is apparent that no hazard exists, the vehicle may be slowed down to five miles per hour instead of bringing it to a full stop.
2. Those who have MC or other vehicles are kings of the road - mayabang and will regard other entities on the road as piece of meat, a future road kill.
3. Traffic enforcement - If the traffic enforcers stop the vehicles at pedestrian lane, issue tickets, and or send those who violate the traffic law should be sent on seminars The trouble is in the said law, while there are penalties, (and which are very light and addressed to the timeline of the passage of the law the 1960s) there are no penalties for the violation of section 42 c of the said law. No wonder the traffic enforcers are helpless to enforce a tooth less spineless law. No wonder majority of motorists ignore the pedestrian lane crossing since they are unenforceable anyway, and so too pedestrians, (anyway the motor vehicles will just ram them at the pedestrian lane) So buwis buhay na lang anywhere it is convenient)
What can be done?
