Slow Down, Stop, and Go

by Jamila Hiba A. Padilla

Where can you find the colors yellow, red and green? That’s right, in a traffic light. The colors which means to slow down, stop and go.

Based on the colors they used, it is easy to understand what you should do when driving and coming across one. They put it up there in the first place to lessen chances of car accidents, to organize busy streets and especially to avoid traffic jams. So they thought.

Test run up in flames

The city’s traffic lights with CCTV is worth P91M to avoid and ease up the congestion of roads. It was a good opportunity for the Kagay-anons until the day of the test run. People expected a smooth ride because of the expectations they had in mind. Reality hit those expectations, thus, creating chaos.

According to Sun Star last August 24, 2014, vehicles especially in Macanhan, Upper Balulang, Vamenta Boulevard in Barangay Carmen, Rodelsa Circle and Barangay Macasandig were in long lines. As a result, drivers began honking and yelling because the new traffic lights went online. The people were not informed. While drafting and presenting this plan was good, informing the public that the new traffic lights were to be tested that day would have been better.

For this reason, not only did the traffic lights cause a massive traffic jam, it also affected the motorists. Unaware of which intersection they should stop, it triggered them to ignore.

To illustrate why it takes so long for the next street to move, is because the traffic light detects which side needs more time to move than the others.

However, this was only just a test run. The reason for the new lights’ activation was mainly to see if it was “suitable and ready for full implementation”. Trial and error method is considered in this case because the consultant will observe, receive comments and suggestions and will apply it for the next time they will do a test run. Therefore, there will be lesser errors to fix, lesser complaints to receive.

Traffic enforcers needed

Regardless of the test run, it is important to also come up with other solutions to the problem. The test run was a failure but there is always room for improvements. Since it was only to see the capabilities and what it can do for the city, we cannot only stick to this. The question is: Do we really need new traffic lights? What’s wrong with the old ones?

The new traffic lights are bigger, clearer and are more convenient to everyone but relying on the traffic lights is not a way to go. What we need are more traffic enforcers.

According to the article “Oro PUJ drivers: ‘traffic aides, not lights’”, it states that to solve the vehicular congestion, more traffic enforcers should be deployed by the City Government. It will be less chaotic if enforcers will be assigned in particular streets in the city.

Some people were interviewed in the article and most of them had the same thought. “Traffic was not a big problem before”, “must find better solutions”, “the traffic lanterns will only cause traffic”, the irony. The traffic lights were supposed to help people, help them have a smooth flow of traffic, to make it easier for them. But it only gave them the exact opposite.

Other possible solutions

While adding traffic enforcers is a possibility, the RTA has thought of something that might help us with the traffic light problem. A new traffic scheme for the new bridge but they have to do a dry run to see if it does or does not work. The dry run will start at January 15 and end at January 19. It will officially open the next week after the dry run. The bridge will have signs too that says “no left turn” or “No parking” so that the drivers will be guided accordingly.

What makes this so much interesting is that it restricts other vehicles like trisikad, motorela, six wheeler trucks and heavier trucks. So basically, jeepneys are the only vehicles allowed in the bridge. It is easier that way than other different vehicles mixed in the same bridge together. Considering that jeepneys are only allowed through the JR Borja Bridge, they should take note or keep in mind the new traffic scheme. Different signs will be placed on the sides or near the bridge to avoid any confusion.

To sum up everything, before doing test or dry runs in a project, expect it to fail. Because in that failure, one is motivated to make it better and make sure it does. In this case, the new traffic lights did not go as planned but with a bit more time and a few adjustments, it will. Finally, a plan must always have back up plans. It is important to always keep a few tricks up your sleeves in any case that will happen.

Sources:

http://www.cdodev.com/2014/11/08/random-shots-traffic-at-masterson-avenue-vamenta-boulevard-junction/

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2015/01/14/rta-proposes-traffic-scheme-new-bridge-dry-run-386575

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/08/26/test-run-new-oro-traffic-lights-chaos-361845

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/08/27/oro-puj-drivers-traffic-aides-not-lights-362049

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