By Eva C. Visperas

 

THE past month made me wonder why tricycles along Sta. Barbara-Urdaneta and another along San Fabian-Damortis (La Union) national highways take the outer or shoulder lanes.

At first, I could hardly believe it. Was it real? Were there cops around?

“Wow, this is amazing,” I said, as I repeatedly observed the way motorcycles and tricycles keep to the side in those areas, how they move away from the center to the outer lane once they see fast moving vehicles behind them.

There was no need to blow the horn. They are disciplined.

“Matic,” as we used to say.

Good thing these riders and tricycle drivers are aware, unlike in most areas in Pangasinan, where they don’t give a damn or even show a little respect to other motorists. I had tried several times to honk my car horn. It was futile.

By their attitude I could almost hear them, “Manigas ka!”

There was a time, few years back, when policemen were out in the highways flagging down motorcycle riders and tricycle drivers that stay on the center lanes, slowing down motorists, buses and trucks. There were road signages, too, reminding them to stay on the shoulder. It was strictly enforced then and tricycle drivers, most especially, obeyed.

Why were they obeying the rule?

The answer, my friends, is… they were scared of being fined or flagged down by the police. The police law enforcers at that time were diligent and in place looking out for violators.

Then it became just another ningas cogon campaign. Maganda lang sa umpisa. Pag tumagal na, nawawala na.

Then last week, I read an article from the Provincial Information Office about anti-kamote riders to avoid road accidents.

The plan is to make the Capitol Complex a traffic discipline zone in Pangasinan! To make it a showroom in the province.

It’s logical because there is the LTO in the Capitol Complex, and tricycles move around the different national and provincial offices.

I’ve been hoping to see road discipline back in Pangasinan, particularly regulating slow-moving vehicles like tricycles, motorcycles, electric bikes and bicycles. And then came this good news.

The message in the video posted on the official Facebook page of the Province of Pangasinan was : Iwas disgrasya kung walang kamote driver sa kalsada.

The program said the Capitol area will be made as a model for traffic discipline zone.

Once strictly enforced, hopefully, all types of small and slow-moving vehicles, from tricycles and motorcycles to electric bikes and bicycles, will again begin staying on the outer or shoulder lanes along national highways.

This, in fact, is in compliance with R.A. 4136 or Land Transportation and Traffic Code and Department of Interior and Local Government memorandum circular 2017-01.

There should be more checkpoints by the police or the LTO along the main thoroughfares. If it’s difficult to break old habits of errant drivers, eh di wow, magmulta! It might still help instill discipline but let’s face it, it will remain an elusive dream.

Berlin Ross Gonzales, OIC at the Land Transportation Office, Lingayen District Office cited almost 33 deaths daily mostly involving motorcycles across the country.

Will the conduct of seminars help? Perhaps strict and sustained enforcement is the key.

I was browsing sources for more information about road accidents when I came across a previous editorial of this paper that discussed undisciplined reckless riders and tricycle drivers. The editorial lamented the failure of the police and LTO agents to consistently strictly enforce other laws related to motorcycle riding. It partly read: “The Guico provincial administration should, for a change, consider initiating something to protect lives, specifically, mapping out a strategy in collaboration with the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office and the LTO regional office to forestall reckless motorcycle riding on the highways before more lives are maimed or lost and properties destroyed by undisciplined riders.”

This is part of the solution and it’s good to note something’s being done by the present administration, and I hope it’s ASAP and consistent, too!

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