FOR us living in Davao City, we all know how frustrating it can be driving along the streets of the city. Not an hour goes by where there is an erring individual who is plying the streets.

The lack of road discipline is taking its toll on the city as it experiences traffic that is much worse than before. This lack of road discipline may be becoming a cause of traffic in the city -- our roads are quite narrow and our drivers have no discipline.

This also resulted in road accidents around the city. According to the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Highway Patrol Group, they have recorded over 170 road accidents between September 9 and 15.

Despite the constant reminders of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) on road discipline, motorists continue to disregard them.

It also should be noted that while there are days that seem like the traffic agencies are enforcing traffic rules, there are also days that we can barely feel their presence. It is also clear that when we look around us there is also a lack of implementation of traffic rules.

On Tuesday, Davao City Councilor Conrado Baluran, who heads the committee on transportation and communication, said he will pass this measure as an ordinance that will consider driving without a license as a criminal offense.

“Driving without a valid license should be considered a criminal offense that needs stiffer imposition of penalty, this includes imprisonment,” Baluran said on Tuesday, September 17, during the City Council session.

He is also proposing for a one-year imprisonment period for those who will be caught driving without a driver’s license.

“In the first place, ngano mu-drive man ka nga wala’y lisensya? You are endangering the people nga imo gipasakay ug imong mabanggaan. Imong sarili sab, imo gina-endanger (Why would you be driving without any license in the first place? Not only that you are endangering the people you are riding with in your vehicle, but also those people who you would be crashing with your recklessness. Also, you are putting your lives at risk),” Baluran said.

In an earlier report, Task Force Davao is also recommending stiffer penalties for those who will park illegally in the city.

Stricter rules are great to deter erring drivers. We need stricter rules today because many drivers, whether it is for private vehicles or public utility vehicle drivers, have become abusive of their privilege to drive the streets of Davao City.

However, once we have these rules, there should also be a proper implementation from LTO, CTTMO, and including the LTFRB. These rules are useless if the traffic and transport agencies are unable to implement these properly.