New rules on pedestrian lanes crossing makes these crossings safer

It is more fun criticizing

The LTO under its new head Lacanilao has issued new orders regarding penalties for violation of an old law on pedestrian lane.  It has been noticeable. that there is a marked improvement on how motorists recently have been behaving at pedestrian lanes...

New LTO memo on pedestrian lane violations

Observance of pedestrian law provision of LTO law

It is more fun criticizing

The former mayor of this town was killed while crossing the highway;  he was ran over by a speeding vehicle.

Now it is no longer the former mayor who are at risk of being bumped or being run over by motor vehicles.  But many others who cross at the pedestrian lane.  A gentle reminder on the pedestrian lane law.  Section 43C of the LTO law  It came from this post.  

It is my experience on a daily basis that it is dangerous to cross at pedestrian law, even  if there are such toothless laws

https://ulongnuno.blogspot.com/2017/06/enforcing-pedestrian-lane-crossing-law.html

(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.

Vehicles do not slow down at pedestrian lane.   There are some who do but very rare.

Let us make the pedestrian lane a haven for pedestrians and not make them merely as decorations

Respect for law even just the pedestrian lane

It is more fun criticizing

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

      Excerpt of the Law   Section 42.C

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?

Spate of traffic accidents from undisciplined drivers; traffic jams too caused by the same problem

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines
October 16, 2016

There was a recent feature of pasaway drivers:   MC, AUV, and SUV who counterflow causing more traffic jams and accidents.   The MMDA experts say that this against the law and must be stopped .  They plan to field more traffic constable.  Enforcement is the key

Discipline is key to nation building  Just look at Singapore.  Litteirng, graffiti and chewing gum are prohibited. They have many dos and donts.  But look at their wealth and progress.  How about the Philippines.  Uunlad ba tayo?

It is my experience too that motorists do not stop at pedestrian lanes.  So pedestrians beware. Just because there is a pedestrian lane, will it mean that vehicles trucks, jeeps, MC, private vehicles will stop.  Even if there was a traffic enforcer.  You risk being run over if you cross the lane if there are plenty of vehicles coming

Beware