BEING involved in finding solutions to the traffic problems in the City is quite a big challenge.
The present state of the road repairs coupled with the diggings by the roadside to address the flooding problems, has compounded the traffic congestion caused not merely by the sheer volume of motor vehicles plying our narrow streets but also by the lack of respect by some, if not most, road users for even the basic regulations on traffic.
I hope I am wrong, but most road repair and drainage digging contractors appear to be unmindful of the effects of slow-paced road projects on traffic conditions. They may have technical explanations for the delays, but to the layman and to the road users, the delays simply add to the traffic mess.
Take, for example, the Macapagal Drive road repair. The contractor wantonly bore holes on both lanes of the concrete pavement, resulting in a nightmarish traffic mess without even informing the RTA about it. You already know the result. The contractor had his reasons for doing so, but he failed to consider the bigger picture.
Addressing the city’s traffic problem requires everybody’s cooperation. All road users have to do is abide by regulations. Of course, traffic managers should also start thinking outside the box.
Merely fielding traffic aides is not enough. There are long-term solutions that can readily be implemented though the results cannot be expected overnight.
Let’s all work hand in hand to address the challenge in front of us.
