Traffic and Traffic Management

Traffic

• Involves the movement of people and goods from one location to another.
• Happens along a guideway, either physical (railroad) or designated (aviation, maritime).
• Includes pedestrian and vehicular movement.
• Modes of transportation are road, rail, air, and maritime.

Traffic Management

• The organization, arrangement, guidance, and control of stationary and moving traffic.
• Aims to provide safe, orderly, and efficient movement of people and goods.
• Protects and enhances the local environment near traffic facilities.
• It is a systematic and sustained effort to direct and control traffic, minimizing negative effects of the transport system.
• Involves conscious efforts to alleviate problems caused by automobile use.
• Entails systematic efforts of managing and controlling traffic.
• Uses various traffic engineering and administrative techniques.
• Implements specific traffic control practices within a defined policy framework.
• Seeks to achieve objectives set by national, state, or local governments.

Republic Act No. 7924 (1995)

• Addresses transport and traffic management in the Metropolitan Manila area.
• Includes formulating, coordinating, and monitoring policies and standards for transport operations and infrastructure.
• Focuses on the use of thoroughfares and promotion of safe movement of people and goods.
• Institutes systems for regulating road users.
• Administers and implements traffic enforcement, engineering services, and education programs.

Objectives of Traffic Management

• Improve traffic safety and flow.
• Reduce traffic emissions and utilize traffic artery capacity.
• Curb demand for transport.
• Affect the selection of transport mode, route, or travel time.

Specific Objectives Based on Austroads17 (2019)

• Improve traffic flow conditions and reduce congestion.
• Enhance safety on a route or within an area.
• Improve safety, mobility, and accessibility for children, pedestrians, and cyclists.
• Enhance amenity of residential areas.
• Improve access to commercial, retail, and recreational activities.
• Improve road freight productivity.
• Enhance safety.
• Improve operating conditions for road-based public transport.
• Improve real-time traveler information for road users.
• Ameliorate parking problems.

Elements of Traffic Management (Finnish Transport Agency)

• Traffic information: Provides up-to-date information on weather, road conditions, incidents, and alternative modes.
• Traffic control: Supervises movement of people, goods, or vehicles for efficiency and safety.
• Incident management: Detects, handles, and eliminates traffic incidents while restoring traffic flow.
• Demand management: Affects choices in destination, time, mode, or route of transport.
• Driver support: IT and communications tech applications provide assistance to the driver actively or passively.
• Monitoring. Systems involve automatic speed and intersection control that detect and classify vehicles in selected areas.
• Fleet management: Plans, monitors, controls, and assesses the movement of vehicles and drivers.

Traffic Laws

• Regulate vehicles, pedestrians, animals, and other conveyances.
• Vary from place to place.
• Codified in many countries, setting out legal requirements and punishments for breaking them.

Traffic Law Enforcement

• A law enforcement effort to obtain compliance with traffic regulations.
• Maintains orderly traffic flow and reduces congestion.

Key Agencies in the Philippines

• Land Transportation Office (LTO): Promotes safety and comfort for motor vehicle users.
• Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH): Constructs and maintains national roads and highways.
• Department of Transportation (DOTr): Policy, planning, coordinating and implementing transportation.
• Land Transportation Franchising & Regulatory Board (LTFRB): Oversees public land transportation services.
• Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG): Enforces traffic laws and promotes safety.

Republic Act (RA) 4136: Land Transportation and Traffic Code

• Compiles laws related to land transportation and traffic rules.
• Defines "Motor Vehicle" and requires registration.
• Established the Land Transportation Commission (LTC), a predecessor to LTO and LTFRB.

Republic Act (RA) 8750: Seat Belts Use Act of 1999

• Requires mandatory seat belt use for motorists.
• Defines "Seat Belt Device".
• Prohibits children under six from sitting in the front seat.

Republic Act (RA) 10586: Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013

• Penalizes driving under the influence of alcohol or dangerous drugs.
• Calls for both driver and law enforcement officer education.

Republic Act (RA) 10054: Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009

• Mandates motorcycle riders to wear standard protective helmets.
• Applies to drivers and back riders.
• Requires helmets to comply with DTI guidelines and bear the Philippine Standard (PS) or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) mark.

Joint Administrative Order (JOA) No. 2014-01

• Revised schedule of fines and penalties for land transportation violations.

Republic Act (RA) Number 7924 of 1995

• Created the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
• Mandates MMDA to manage transport and traffic in Metro Manila.

Republic Act (RA) No. 8749: Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999

• Comprehensive air quality management policy.
• Calls for an Emission Charge System for motor vehicle dischargers.

Republic Act (RA) 10666: Children's Safety on Motorcycles Act of 2015

• Protects children riding on motorcycles.
• Sets requirements for child passengers on motorcycles.

Republic Act (RA) 10913: Anti-Distracted Driving Act (ADDA)

• Prohibits the use of mobile communication devices and electronic gadgets while driving.
• Defines "Distracted Driving".
• Lists prohibited activities.
• Exceptions given.

Highway Patrol Group PNP-HPG

• Enforces traffic laws and promotes safety.

The Five Pillars of Traffic Management

• Education: Providing training, awareness, and practice for traffic safety.
• Enforcement: Actions taken by police, such as arrests and warnings.
• Engineering: Applying science to traffic flow and transportation systems.
• Environment: Addressing factors like migration, crowding, and infrastructure.
• Economics: Managing, distributing, and using resources.