A comparative study on local and national traffic regulations: Implications to traffic situation in Iloilo City

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the issues and conflicts of Local and National Traffic Regulatory Laws and Ordinances and how these affected the implementation and enforcement of traffic rules in Iloilo City and specifically aimed to determine the proper implementation of. R.A. 4136 and Iloilo City Ordinance No. 338 and if the Local Ordinance was compliant to the National Regulatory Law. Factors that affected the traffic situation, driver and pedestrian awareness and observance of laws, types of vehicles traversing the roads, flow and route of traffic and other features were also considered as important aspects, as not only traffic regulations affect the traffic situation, other facets such as discipline of the populace, breadth and width of roads, the implementing offices for traffic laws and their officers are indispensable elements of the overall traffic situation in the city. Traffic regulations and legislations greatly affect society, transportation is a vital aspect of civilization, hence, improving traffic regulations tend to refine the daily traffic conditions and improve daily lives of citizens, and on the other hand, poor traffic regulation and enforcement can be compared to a calamity or disaster which no one would want to encounter. Based on the findings of this study the Local Traffic Regulatory Ordinance is inconsistent with the National Regulatory Law and the continued implementation of the ordinance will create a complicated traffic situation in the city. It is recommended that the Local Ordinance should conform to the provisions of the National Law in order to improve the traffic situation in Iloilo City.