The streets are still scary

I have been in staying in Manila, because of work, since the last quarter of 1998. But up to now, crossing the streets of Mega Manila is still scary.

Either, because I am a true blue promdi (promdi: colloquial for "from the province") (where crossing the streets are as easy as the ABCs because of the lack of traffic) or because the streets of Mega Manila are not really pedestrian-friendly.

Let's see. Here and there we see a pedestrian lane across a street. Has anyone noticed a car stopping before the lane when a person is trying to cross the street? In many places, especially the first world countries, motorists are required to stop before pedestrian lanes when a person is about to cross the street or even when that same person is still standing at the side walk and about to cross.

Pedestrian lanes take precedence over any traffic sign. This means that once a person is ready to cross the street using a pedestrian lane, all motorists are required to stop.

It is a big possibility that there are no laws in the Philippines that require motorists to stop.

There are also no laws also as to how accountants are supposed to account. There is, however, the generally accepted accounting principles.

Same goes for the use of pedestrian lanes. There has to be a generally accepted use of pedestrian lanes principle.

But let us not stop here. Pedestrian lanes are not supposed to be placed when a traffic light is available simply because the pedestrian lane takes precedence over all traffic signs. By placing a pedestrian in conjunction with a traffic light, the pedestrian lane, then, loses its purpose. What needs to be placed in places where traffic lights are available are solid lines, left and right, to where the pedestrians are supposed to cross. However, it is still common, even when there is a pedestrian lane, though wrongly placed, that motorists occupy this area as waiting points. Come to think of it, even the MMDA and traffic enforcers would ask motorists to occupy the said areas! Government vehicles, police cars, and even MMDA cars cross pedestrian lanes as if they own the whole highway.

While as mentioned that pedestrian lanes take precedence over all traffic signs, there are areas where pedestrian lanes are not to be placed. They are not to be placed in national roads. Precisely because national roads are so busy and traffic should be moving fast. In Mega Manila, the doon-po-ang-tawiran (the-crossing-area-is-over-there) sign is also common. However, when one goes to the crossing area, one would see a dangerous situation for one to cross the street: there are no traffic officers to control the traffic flow which would accomodate pedestrians to cross the street or there is a pedestrian lane but no motorist realizes its purpose.

The implementation of the pedestrian lane is actually simple. Apprehending motorists could be difficult. Most motorists, if not all, are ignorant of the use of the pedestrian lane. Traffic enforcers and the MMDA are ignorant of its use, too. Most probably, the Land Transportation Office is ignorant of this as well.

But come to think of it, those who are at the higher chain of command have at least been to a first world country once. They should have noticed the use of the pedestrian lanes there. But, with how things are in this country, I don't think they have noticed that either. Or are they ignorant too?

This country is beset by a lot of traffic problems. There are big problems and small problems. Why not start with the small ones? It has always been said that big things start small.

Education still holds our weakest link. And by proper and quality education only can we start to improve. Education that is worth our blood and sweat. Education that has a high value.