New traffic code to be enforced in Lucena

LUCENA CITY—After nine months of experimental traffic rerouting scheme, authorities here are set to enforce a new traffic ordinance that aims to address the worsening road situation inside the city proper.

The city government was just waiting for the completion of traffic directional signs to be placed in major streets across the city before it begins implementing the new traffic code passed by the city council last week, said Juanito Diaz, executive assistant to Mayor Barbara Ruby Talaga.

Diaz said the City Hall would also hire additional traffic aides to augment the 30 traffic enforcers in the city.

“The present number of traffic aides is not sufficient to cope with the road problem especially during rush hour. We will also tap barangay policemen in traffic problem areas,” Diaz said.

Councilor Rey Oliver Alejandrino urged a stricter implementation of the new traffic ordinance, as “we already have numerous traffic laws yet they fail to address the worsening traffic situation because of ineffective  implementation.”

Last December, the city government started implementing a traffic experiment where most major and side streets inside the city proper were classified as “one way.”

Some of the loading and unloading areas for passenger jeepneys were also transferred to other spots.

However, the experiment failed.

“There was a lack of serious implementation of traffic ordinances. Abusive motorists continued to defy basic road rules because of the absence of enforcers or worse, some traffic men receive “tong” (bribe) just to ignore the violations,” a jeepney drivers’ leader, who requested anonymity, told the Inquirer.

Even with the new traffic code, motorists should not expect traffic improvement if the code’s implementation is lackadaisical, he added.