The intersection of the following streets: BS Aquino Drive, Lopez Jaena, Ipil-ipil, and FB Saravia, in Bacolod City, could probably qualify as one of the most chaotic in the word, if there was any recognition for such an achievement by a local government unit.
Anyone who has driven through that particular junction knows that it is that one place in the universe where traffic rules do not exist and anyone can do anything they want. Cars in that general area can go straight, turn left, right, park, or make U-turns anywhere they please, apparently because it is some sort of road/commercial area/intersection black hole that nobody understands but everybody somehow mostly manages to get through without too many collisions or incidents.
To be fair to the authorities, this is an intersection so big in terms of area and the flow of traffic so complicated that I don’t think the “smartest” traffic lights in the universe would be able to bring any sense of order to it. Anyway, while we are on the topic of traffic lights, what about those newly installed, supposedly smart, traffic lights at the relatively simple intersections of Buri and Circumferential Roads, and also at North Capitol Road and Gatuslao Streets, which seem to have made traffic worse instead of better?
Hopefully those new traffic lights are still learning to be smart, and when they do get up to speed, there might be improvements at how they handle the traffic instead of just making things worse, the way they are right now. Or is it the humans that are learning how to deal with unnecessary traffic lights? Anyway, for now, the unimpressive performance of those two new traffic lights has left me wishing for the good old days when there was no traffic light at those intersections.
As for the intersection at the beginning of this, the only way I can see any order in that area is if a roundabout or rotunda were implemented. That way, the flow of vehicles will be regulated, as they can only enter or exit the roundabout in one direction only, instead of driving into and around each other from multiple directions.
The trouble with roundabouts is that Filipinos probably wouldn’t know how to use it properly. In addition, unless some kind of monument is erected at its center, it is a viable solution that won’t cost a lot, and that is usually a no go when it comes to projects in this country, where the proponents would rather have giant price tags.
But if you come to think of it, a roundabout is a very simple tool that keeps order and the traffic flowing at the same time. The way it is designed ensures that there will be no gridlock because vehicles that enter it shouldn’t stop but continue moving in one direction, until they can exit. The limiting factor with most roundabouts is space, but in the case of the area we are referring to, there is a lot of space, which is also the reason why there is so much chaos.
If there was a roundabout there, vehicles from all directions would simply have to enter it, and then flow in one direction in a safe and orderly manner until it is time to exit.
But now that I’ve thought about it a bit, another reason why the roundabout solution has not been considered in that area would probably be the potential for traffic jams, especially since that roundabout is sandwiched by two traffic lights. One at La Salle Avenue, and another one, at Narra Extension. If traffic backs up all the way to the roundabout, then it will also stop flowing, and given the Pinoy propensity for chaos, it would be difficult to imagine what would happen next.
However, what is obvious by now, the year 2024, is that local governments should not just give up on trying to put some order into chaos just because it is difficult. It shouldn’t matter if neither a roundabout nor another set of some kind of “smart” traffic lights is the solution, because something still has to be done to bring a sense of order into that area.
The apathy toward its continued existence bolsters the perception that government is inutile and incapable of coming up with the creative solutions that come with running any growing city on this planet.
If I had the power and the opportunity to propose a solution for that particular area, I would still push for a roundabout, not only at that intersection, but all other applicable ones as well, as such a system also encourages better driving habits and attitudes, as counter flowing and cutting corners are often frowned upon, if not outright illegal, in roundabouts.
However, we are merely observers, and while we can make comments, those who can affect change are those that we put into power via the ballot. Whether or not they see such issues as problems requiring solutions is entirely up to them, but in this country, many public officials would rather not bother with the status quo if it kind of works because they would probably not rock the boat if it hasn’t sunk yet anyway.*
