The Department of Health is backing proposals that call for the enforcement of a 30kph speed limit on city and town roads, as it noted that rising incidents of road crashes have become the top killer among young Filipinos.
Apparently, according to Republic Act No. 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, the maximum allowable speed on city and municipality streets with light traffic, when not designated as “through streets,” is 30kph for passenger cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses.
So, the law has been there for ages, but nobody has been enforcing it until it became forgotten. Like a mythical beast, if summoned it could potentially deliver the gift of safer roads. However, like most creatures of myth, it comes at a cost, and some Filipinos, and probably most local officials, do not seem to be willing to pay the price of 30kph.
And ignore and forget it we did, along with so many other traffic rules and regulations, leaving us with the traffic hellscape that we have long considered normal.
To be honest, I have mixed feelings with a 30kph speed limit, as it is does not seem to be a very efficient speed, especially with how road widening seems to be the only solution our public officials know when it comes to traffic management. However, from a safety standpoint, it does make a lot of sense because slower speeds obviously mean less chances of road crashes, as the low speed gives most drivers enough reaction time to respond to surprises.
If government is going to decide to enforce the 30kph speed limit, its entire road-building and design philosophy has to be overhauled first, because wider roads encourage faster speeds and a low speed limit doesn’t pair well with a road widening spree. However, if you come to think of it, combining it with a walkable city master plan would make perfect sense. That means if Bacolod is serious about its walkability ordinance, a 30kph speed limit should automatically go with it.
Additionally, aside from enforcing the speed limit, whatever it may be, there are so many other traffic rules that have to be enforced if the goal is to make our roads not only safer, but more efficient as well. Motorcycles will not like the speed limit, so even if that is enforced, we can expect the kamote nation to still break every other traffic rule. Aside from the speed limit, other rules that have to be enforced include those involving pedestrian lanes, keeping intersections open, regulating parking, disciplined public transport, and absolutely banning counterflows, which all make our roads more dangerous than they should be. A strictly enforced 30kph speed limit will achieve nothing if all the other traffic rules can still be violated with impunity by every Tom, Dick, and Harry.
It would be nice if our inner city roads could actually be made safer and less chaotic with a blanket 30kph speed limit. Although it is a good starting point, the government effort has to go beyond that, especially in areas where traffic rules are merely suggestions. As long as we have unusable sidewalks, enforcers that would rather look the other way, traffic lights that don’t work properly, and pedestrian lanes that aren’t even given any thought, our roads will remain dangerous for motorists and pedestrians alike.
If you come to think of it, 30kph may sound slow but based on my car’s trip computer, that is pretty close to the average speed I travel, and that is considering that most of my commute is via the highway. So, a 30kph speed limit would actually be ok if everything flows smoothly because everyone is driving in a disciplined manner and there are no unnecessary obstructions or constant hazards to navigate.
When nobody speeds up just to slow down, everyone still gets to where they need to go, and everyone is still much safer. As long as the government can properly identify and clearly mark the areas where the speed limits apply, so implementation and enforcement can be as clear and hassle-free as possible, it shouldn’t be that hard to comply if it is for the common good.
The only people who should be afraid of a 30kph speed limit in heavily populated areas and narrow streets are those who like to drive dangerously. But as the saying goes, “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast,” if we can cooperate with government to make everything run smoothly, we may end up getting things done faster, and safer too.*
