WITH Christmas Day approaching, motorists are expected to rush in and out of major thoroughfares in Cebu City to shop for gifts.

But despite the yuletide frenzy, Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) operations chief Francisco Ouano reminded motorists to follow traffic laws, especially the City’s anti-counterflow measure.

Executive Order (EO) 34 penalizes motorists who counterflow, or drive in the wrong lane against oncoming traffic.

Signed by Mayor Tomas Osmeña last February, the EO provides that all vehicles, including motorcycles, that are caught counterflowing will be impounded for 30 days.

Last March, the mayor doubled the penalty for second-time offenders. This means vehicles of erring motorists who are repeat violators will be kept in the storage area in the South Road Properties (SRP) for 60 days.

“Whenever we apprehend erring motorists, their reason most of the time is that they are in a rush. We expect that to be a common reason, especially with the coming holidays, but we would like to remind everyone that traffic rules and regulations should always be followed,” Ouano said.

Since last Friday, Nov. 30, 65 motorcycles, three private vehicles, two public utility jeepneys and two taxis have been impounded for counterflowing.

These will have to stay at the CCTO’s impounding area in the SRP for 30 days.

Ouano also identified MJ Cuenco Ave., Osmeña Blvd. and F. Llamas St. as areas of concern.

In another development, heavy traffic was felt in some parts of southern Cebu on Sunday, Dec. 2.

Jonathan Tumulak, Capitol traffic management focal person, told SunStar Cebu that slight heavy traffic was observed around 9 a.m. in the City of Naga, where the 2018 National Age Group Triathlon was being held.

Tumulak said local traffic officials closed the northbound lane of the national highway around 6 a.m. and opened it around noon.

In the afternoon, an ongoing road project was blamed for the heavy traffic in Barangay Perrelos, Carcar City. Work had resumed after it was temporarily suspended to make way for the city’s annual fiesta.

Tumulak said local traffic enforcers and barangay tanods manned the streets to ensure that traffic moved. (RTF, JKV)