THE number of drivers apprehended for not keeping intersections in Cebu City clear has decreased, according to the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO).
In its November 2016 to January 2017 report, the CCTO said there were 42 drivers apprehended for traffic rules violation, particularly on box junction, compared to the 59 apprehensions recorded in November 2015 to January 2016.
A box junction, or "junction box" as used by CCTO in its list of penalties, is a yellow box with an X inside and is typically found in road intersections. It is needed as a road traffic control measure designed to prevent congestion and gridlock at intersections.
Based on rules, the traffic lights inform drivers whether to stop or go but even when the light is green, they are not allowed to proceed to the box if there is no room on the other side.
The yellow traffic light informs drivers to slow down instead of speeding up. Only those already in the box junction are allowed to continue driving.
No vehicle is allowed to stay in the box for a prolonged period of time, otherwise, CCTO will apprehend and impose an administrative fine of P500 to violators.
The CCTO and Cebu Road Heroes, a Cebu-based community dedicated to help solve the city's traffic problem, installed in November 2016 the KIC (Keep Intersections Clear) signs along the Metro Cebu roads.
The sign aims to educate the drivers to maintain smooth traffic flow by clearing intersections.
Traffic enforcer Kereñ Enrique said the signs are very helpful. "Dako kaayo og ikatabang, daghan na ang na inform. (It’s a big help, a lot [of people] are already informed.) Dapat i-clear gyud na siya always (It [intersection] should always be clear), in case of emergency.
Violation process
Traffic education officer-in-charge and Operations Officer II Sonnie Yrog-irog said that drivers who violate are issued a citation ticket, after which they will be given three days to settle their violation. If the driver is not able to pay the fine within the grace period, a case will be filed by the CCTO's legal office.
The legal office will file an affidavit of complaint to the fiscal's office, and a traffic violation relative to the junction box will be filed against the driver, she added.
Yrog-irog said that any judge who receives the case will send a summon to the driver to schedule a hearing, and the penalty will be higher once the case has reached the court.
Here is a list of the administrative fines and penalties for traffic violations:
Blocking pedestrian lanes
Aside from the box junction violation, motorists in Cebu City also block the pedestrian lanes.
Yrog-irog said the enforcers find it difficult sometimes to apprehend drivers, especially when many are involved.
"Ang uban (traffic) enforcers mudakop gyud para makita sa uban driver nga gidakop gyud. Dili pud lage mahurot tanan, kutob lang sa iyang ma-issuehan, (Other enforcers apprehend violators to show drivers an example. However, they are unable to seize all violators)," she said.
Enrique said sometimes, it would be difficult and time-consuming for an enforcer to issue a ticket to a violator, especially if there are a lot of motorists, as they themselves may cause traffic.
"Bisan pa ug clear or go ang dagan sa traffic didto, ang amoa diri, pugong nalang gyud kutob sa among mahimo na di gyud ma lock ang tunga, (Even if the other side is clear or there is smooth traffic flow, we (enforcers) make sure we don't cause gridlock)," he added. (SunStar Philippines)
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