The 'yellow lane' rule is a regulation that many motorists—both private car owners and PUVs alike—have forgotten about over time, mainly due to its obvious lack of enforcement.
Looking to change the status quo and improve the flow of traffic, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced it was cracking down on those disregarding the policy along EDSA beginning today, November 20. Since this morning, the agency says it has caught nearly 600 violators.
Of the 585 vehicles which violated the yellow lane rule this morning, 434 were private cars and 151 were public buses. Most of the violators were caught via the MMDA's no-contact apprehension, with 364 private motorists and 114 buses seen disregarding the regulation through CCTV cameras.
MMDA assistant general manager Jojo Garcia stressed that the figures mentioned above already represent the agency's "maximum tolerance" in catching violators on the ground. "As much as possible, maximum tolerance lalo na sa private vehicles," he said during a press conference held earlier today. "Hangga't kaya natin wag manghuli sa ground, puwera na lang kung matigas talaga ang ulo, iwasan natin. Kasi po, pag manghuli tayo sa ground, hihinto 'yan at magca-cause ng traffic.
"Kung titingnan po natin ang datos na 'to, minimal po ito. Kasi ang dumadaan sa EDSA during that time siguro nasa 50,000 in a single hour. And buses siguro mga 2,000 in a single hour. So percentage-wise, manageable ang hindi sumusunod."
The official also took the opportunity to encourage private motorists to give up the yellow lane to PUVs. "Sanayin na po natin na ang yellow lane ibigay muna sa publiko iyan," he said.
Will the MMDA be able to implement the yellow lane rule on a more consistent basis? Only time will tell. Did you notice any improvement in the flow of traffic along EDSA this morning? Let us know in the comments section below.
