Mayor reminds motorists on road courtesy after spate of motorcycle, vehicular accidents
Drivers of motorcycle, private and public vehicles are reminded once again to observe road courtesy after spate of vehicular accidents in the past months.
Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong ordered the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) to work together and come up with possible measures to address the increasing incidences of vehicular accidents.
Baguio’s main thoroughfares namely Session Road, Magsaysay Avenue, Harrison Road and Abanao Street with an average width of 20 meters were designed then for 25,000 people. Now, Baguio City has more than 400,000 with more than 57,000 registered vehicles therefore traffic jams cannot be avoided.
Given the current traffic predicaments, discipline among motorists and pedestrians and compliance to traffic rules and regulations is needed according to the mayor.
CDRRMO Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer IV Engr. Charles Bryan Carame said they are coordinating with the Department of Transportation and the Highway patrol Group for the needed actions or programs.
Motorists are reminded of City Ordinance No. 18, series of 2019, providing for the speed limits for all kinds of motor vehicles within the territorial jurisdiction of Baguio City.
The ordinance was passed to intensify the strict enforcement of traffic laws during rush hours to deter speeding and other dangerous behaviors on the road; maximize the deployment of personnel at traffic accident prone areas from 9 am to 3 pm; additional installation of speed bumps; encourage the use of public transportation, cycling, and walking as alternative modes of transportation to reduce the number of vehicles on the road; and more.
Likewise, City Ordinance No. 07, series of 2010 or the King of the Road measure, requires vehicles to fully stop for five seconds when approaching a pedestrian lane except if the same is manned by a Police Officer, Traffic Auxiliary Personnel, Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) personnel or any person designated to direct traffic.
The ordinance also provides that during a slow down or a stop in vehicular traffic movement, no vehicle shall obstruct any portion of the pedestrian lane.Thus, pedestrian lanes must always be free from any vehicles starting from each borderline to the other.
All violators may be reported to the Baguio City Police Office by calling the city’s emergency hotline 911 or by sending a picture of the vehicle’s plate number to the Baguio In My Pocket Application (BIMP). – JM Samidan
