MMDA notes spike in traffic violations in last five years

The number of traffic violators  continues to rise in the last five years, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

According to MMDA traffic operations chief Bong Nebrija, the Filipinos' lack of discipline is becoming a big factor to the traffic problem.

In 2014, there were 282,182 violations;  226,707 in 2015; 242,853 in 2016; 364,338 in 2017 and 474,344 in 2018.

In EDSA, Guadalupe and Arayat have the most number of traffic violations with 979, while the Main and Boni avenues have 756 and 571, respectively.

"In terms of discipline, poor talaga tayo. Maraming pasaway, totoo 'yon. Nakaka-affect ba? Syempre it affects, but dahil sa situation ng Metro Manila na ganyan, kahit pa na 100% discipline, hindi na kaya kasi it's beyond the traffic management," Dr. Primitivo Cal, a transportation expert said in Chino Gaston's report in State of the Nation with Jessica Soho.

Cal added that even authorities and officials sometimes violate the traffic rules.

Virgel Binghay, a social anthropologist, said Filipinos in other countries do not violate the traffic rules because of strict enforcement.

Despite the efforts of the MMDA to implement counterflow lanes, coding schemes and the yellow lane policy, motorists continue to violate them.

Binghay said rules should be polished and tested before implementation.

"Dapat hindi gagawa lang ng mga rules out of the blue kasi 'yong mga motorist, dapat naiintindihan 'yong wisdom behind the rules," he said. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News