When in Manila, every citizen knows that traffic in the Philippines is inescapable. The only time you can drive freely with minimal headaches is during wee hours. Truthfully, a lot of government officials have shared their resolutions about the unacceptable situation. One of which is the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority or MMDA. It has established and implemented solutions that could somehow help decongest the traffic problems in the country. One of the many regulations MMDA had presented was the Number Coding.
What is Number Coding?
According to the MMDA website, the Number Coding, formerly known as, Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program, is a traffic decongestion scheme which bans private and public utility vehicles using the main roads during peak hours. The scheme was first implemented in 1995.
Generally, the scheme prohibits cars from using the main roads, especially, if your plate number ends in the following category:
Source: MMDA.gov.ph
Unfortunately, even with the number coding scheme, the traffic in the Philippines is still horrible.
Admittedly, despite spreading awareness about the said scheme, others still find number coding confusing. Because there are municipalities that allow cars even if they are “coding.” Moreover, there are rules and regulations MMDA implemented that others aren’t aware of. For example, “swerving.”
What is “Swerving?”
As explained by the MMDA website, swerving is a movement wherein vehicles shift from a lane to another. However, it could be tagged as reckless driving if done abruptly and irresponsibly. (E.g. swerving in an abrupt and careless manner, swerving without the use of signals, swerving across solid lines).
So, to enlighten everyone, a netizen by the name of Paul Libid, shared an informative post in Facebook, which I think will help EVERY ‘JUAN.’
I suggest to read, screenshot, and have the post below information printed out:
1.Swerving, defined as vehicle movement from a lane to another, is not a traffic violation per se, but it can constitute the offense of ‘Reckless Driving’ if it is done without precautions (e.g. swerving in an abrupt and careless manner, swerving without the use of signals, swerving across solid lines). It can also constitute the offense of ‘Disregarding Traffic Signs’ for areas where signs are present explicitly prohibiting swerving. Mentioning the names of any of the MMDA officials when apprehended will not afford anyone any special treatment.
Kotong cops love to arrest people for swerving. What you can do:
Confidently and politely assert your knowledge of the rules and your rights.
Ask for a ticket and the name of the arresting officer. The ticket will identify the policemen and serve as evidence if you complain against them at the MMDA for extortion.Drop the name of Corazon Jimenez, MMDA General Manager, who is in charge of these MMDA cops. (She is a graduate and former professor of AIM; personally recruited by MMDA Chairman Tolentino also of AIM.)
2.
As a general rule, driver’s licenses are not confiscated but only borrowed for purpose of identification, except on the following situations: – The driver was involved in a traffic accident – The driver has accumulated three (3) or more unsettled violations – The driver has been apprehended for the following administrative violations:
• Allowing another person to use driver’s license
• Broken sealing wire
• Broken taximeter seal
• Colorum operation (cargo/passenger vehicle)
• Driving against traffic
• Fake driver’s license
• Fake/altered taximeter seal
• Fake/altered sealing wire
• Fast/defective/non-operational/tampered taxi meter
• Flagged up meter
• Illegal or unauthorized counter-flow
• Illegal transfer of plates/tags/stickers
• Joined/reconnected sealing wire
• No driver’s ID
• Ignoring Organized Bus Route (OBR) interval timers (for 2nd offense)
• Skipping or bypassing designated OBR terminals or loading bays (for 2nd offense)
• Operating on contractual basis
• Out of line operation
• Overcharging (with or without conductor) (for the 2nd offense)
• Over-speeding
• Refusal to convey passengers to destination/trip-cutting (Taxis and Public Utility Vehicles)
• Refusal to render service to public (Taxis and Public Utility Vehicles)
• Tampered sealing wire
• Tampered taximeter seal
• Tampering of OR/CR/CPC & other documents (spurious documents)
• Undue preference/unjust discrimination
• Using motor vehicle in commission of crimeThe above-mentioned administrative violations also require a minimum of 2 hours seminar (for the drivers) at the Traffic Academy. However, any driver who has committed three (3) or more unpaid violations, whether administrative or moving, shall also be subject to attending seminars, whose length shall be based on the results of the diagnostic exam (exam that will determine the contents of the seminar progress), which will be administered by the Agency. If the license is to be confiscated, the Traffic Enforcer should inform the driver of the reason/s for the confiscation and the ticket validity. If the driver refuses to surrender his driver’s license, his plate may be detached pursuant to Section 74 & 75, MC 89-105.
3.Vehicles with senior citizens on board are not exempted from MMDA traffic rules like Number Coding.
MMDA personnel on the road are allowed to work in groups for special operations, including but not limited to smoke belching operations, anti-drunk driving, anti-over speeding operations, anti-colorum/out of line operations, etc.
5. Right-turning private vehicles are allowed in the yellow lanes, provided that they start shifting lanes upon seeing the transition lane (broken white lines painted diagonally), that you can see around 50 meters away from an intersection. PUBs which go out of the yellow lane will be apprehended for violating the yellow lane policy, except provincial buses, point to point buses and express connect buses.
6. All reports and complaints regarding MMDA road operations should be directed to the MMDA’s Public Concerns & Responses Management Unit, MMDA official hotline (136), or through the MMDA official Facebook and Twitter accounts.
