Cebu City Council Wants Traffic Enforcers to Nab Drivers Who Won’t Give Way to Pedestrians

The Cebu City Council has passed a resolution directing the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) to apprehend drivers who won’t stop at pedestrian lanes to give way to the public who are crossing the streets.

The Cebu City Traffic Code imposes on violators of traffic rules and regulations in the city a fine of not less than PHP3,000 but not more than PHP5,000 or imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than one year.

In a privilege speech, Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak said many drivers in the city are ignoring the pedestrian lanes.

“There are pedestrians needing special treatment in crossing the city streets, the likes of senior citizens, persons-with-disabilities and pregnant women yet motorists, in most cases, fail to yield to the right-of-way of these pedestrians,” he said.

Tumulak presented to the council several photos showing some drivers of jeepneys, motorcycles, taxis and private vehicles who don’t stop on pedestrian lanes even if there are people crossing.

He said these poses dangers to the public especially students crossing the streets in going to their school.

He cited Article 17, Section 2 of the traffic code which provides that “when traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation and traffic is not being directed, the driver of a vehicle shall yield to the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if necessary in order to yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.”

Tumulak said he has also received complaints that some senior citizens who try to cross the streets are being yelled at by some disrespectful drivers. (PNA) FFC/EB/RSM