By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

LAST week, I read another news report about the mandatory attendance in seminar on traffic rules and the subsequent written and driving tests required of applicants for new and renewal of driving licenses by the Land Transportation Office.

Frankly, these new requirements only offer opportunities for corruption of LTO personnel because it creates the opportunity presented by fixers to accomplish all these without physically being there, and save the applicants’ the time and stress to do these.

Of course, the objective of LTO is to have more educated drivers on the road and to avoid vehicular accidents is noble and well-meaning. They have the data on the number of  licensed drivers that figured in accidents and the number of drivers that violated traffic violations but I’m equally sure that LTO doesn’t have the data on the volume of traffic violations on the streets and highways that are not reported on a regular basis.

A daily review of violations caught on CCTV cameras can provide that data. But who’s doing it?

*          *          *          *

STRICT ENFORCEMENT BY LTO, PNP.  Both LTO and PNP are missing the point.

If the LTO and PNP are keen on reducing vehicular accidents, there is only one effective way to it even without requiring written tests and seminars.  It is to strictly and consistently enforce traffic rules! A motorist flagged down for a violation will always remember that violation. It’s a lesson well learned that written tests and seminars can’t provide.

They should learn, too, from the motorists ‘experience inside Campa John Hay and Clark City…  After being flagged down for violations, from failing to yield in corner stops to overtaking on yellow marked lines, to parking in tow-away zones, to beating the red light and over-speeding, many motorists and motorcycle riders learned to fully comply with the traffic rules enforced, the same traffic that are no different from what’s enforced in our streets and highways.

In other words, no amount of tests can teach motorists to observe traffic rules, but a two-weeks refresher course ‘Strict Traffic Enforcement 101’ for our police traffic units and LGU’s traffic enforcers can result in more dramatic results overnight! Then launching a 3-day nationwide awareness campaign after their refresher course on strict enforcement will definitely send chills up the spines of habitual violators!!

Let’s have strict upright enforcers and the country’s roads and highways will be much safer. Motorists and motorcycle riders will be moving slower in their lanes, watching out for traffic enforcers on the lookout for violators. Wanna bet?

*          *          *          *

A DISCIPLINED COMMUNITY. There’s an even bigger payoff in an environment where traffic rules are strictly enforced.  It’s called discipline.

Since enforcement of traffic rules is visible and palpable in public, it makes communities more mindful of complying with other rules that impact on our daily lives. Consider more people using the pedestrian lanes, proper use of designated loading and unloading areas by jeepneys, buses and tricycles, no overloading of vehicles, proper parking on the streets, mandatory use of crash helmets by motorcycle and bicycle riders, complying with terms of franchises, more awareness to stop littering on the streets, etc.

Above all, communities will begin to see another image of our policemen and government employees – one that commands respect.  Even the incorrigible kotongeros in their ranks will be shunned like a pariah.

In short, strict enforcement of traffic rules can change views, outlook and attitude in our communities.

*          *          *          *

DON’T PANGASINENSES CARE? Our editorial this week cites the difference between La Union and Pangasinan in implementing and enforcing campaign rules, particularly rules for posters and billboards.

If Pangasinenses note how election rules are flouted in our towns and cities, you can be sure the residents of La Union are talking about it as well, wondering what’s wrong with us Pangasinenses.

Don’t we follow rules? Nobody cares to enforce rules in the province? No one cares about our trees? Nobody cares that our communities look like garbage dumps? Don’t’ our town/city election supervisors care? Doesn’t provincial supervisor Ericson Organiza care??

*          *          *          *

RELIVING ROTARY DAYS. Last Wednesday night, I had a fun time reliving, recalling the great times I had with the prestigious Rotary Club of Dagupan when I was in my early 20s! The occasion was a fellowship meeting of the club that I was invited to.

Past presidents Marcel Novales and Ramon Gutierrez wanted the members to meet me, the Rotarian that composed the club’s “Welcome” song that’s been sung weekly since the 70s to welcome visiting Rotarians and friends to its weekly meetings! The same song that inspired other Rotary Clubs to compose their own “Welcome” songs.

I felt honored to be in their company. It felt like I was thrown back to the day I joined Rotary when I was 21. That spells 53 years ago! I looked at the young faces around and I immediately felt the connection with their fellowship with one difference – my first grand fellowship experience in Rotary was with their fathers, grandfathers!

So when they sang the “Welcome” song after I was named an honorary member that night, I felt the same fervor and enthusiasm I knew too well. I found myself singing it with them as well.

Still on the lighter side, I agreed with the club’s stand not to admit ladies as regular members even if other clubs are already doing it.. I’m sure the guys already have their hands full with their wives as Inner Wheel members. With lady Rotarians mixing it up with the guys, that can spell real trouble. I foretell that either their fellowship nights will soon be deserted or Inner Wheelers will be joining as well. Hehehe! Cheers to Dagupan Rotary!!

*          *          *          *

BBM VS. LENI TACTICS. Partisan politics is already rearing its ugly head.

The report that the wall cleaned by VP Leni supporters for artists to use, to express their support, was vandalized as dirty as it can get. That incident should leave a bad taste in the mouths of polite and cooler heads in BBMs camp.

There’s no doubt that in anyone’s mind that the vandalism was perpetrated by BBM fanatics.

The BBM camp can refute this endlessly but that isn’t going to help its case any. It will only further deepen opened wounds of political enmity.

What they can do to stop the needless madness and aggravation, is to begin and keep reminding supporters during rallies to respect other camps’ campaign activities. 

By intimidating other camps with bullying tactics makes a big lie out of BBM’s rule of “No hate” towards his challengers.  

In Dagupan, LTFRB Teofilo Guadiz III ordered his teams to block PUBs and PUJs transporting Leni-Kiko supporters to  their Friday Dagupan City rally for violating their franchises’ authorized routes.  Well, it looks like the BBM camp has found the formula to further strengthen the Leni camp.

What’s next?

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments