CDI Traffic Management

Traffic Management and Accident Investigation

3. Course Description:

The course covers laws and fundamentals of traffic safety education, enforcement, engineering,
techniques in vehicular and pedestrian direction and control, techniques in the preparation of selective
enforcement plans and policies for special and emergency traffic situations; methods and procedures in the use
of hand signals and electronic signals lights; techniques in accident investigation; determination of reaction time
and break-in-time, and application of scientific aids in hit-and-run cases. Likewise, it focuses on basic concepts,
principles and safety tips on driving.

Introduction
 Historical Background of Land Transportation
 Manpower, Animal Power, and Wind Power
 Roads and Vehicles History
 Traffic Management
 Fundamentals of Traffic Management
 The Pillars of Traffic
 Traffic Safety Education

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION

By: Prof. Effrenddy M. Estipona
History of Transportation
Transportation: Transportation is the movement or conveying of persons and goods from one location to
another.
Biblical Passages: God sent Adam and Eve when they ate the fruit of the forbidden tree. “Therefore the
Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground whence he was taken.” Moses was
chosen by God to speak to the Pharaoh, King of Egypt to let His children out of Egypt. So, the children of
Israel were gloriously brought out from Egypt to serve God.
Nomads Nomad came from the Greek, “to pasture,” was originally used to refer to pastoralists-groups that
migrate in an established pattern to find pasture lands for their domestic livestock.
3 Types of Nomads
1. Foraging populations who wander to search food.
2. Pastoral nomads who move with their families, belongings and herd sheep’s camels etc.
3. The gypsies, tinkers, and similar itinerants in urban and complex cities.

With no doubt, human beings started traveling to places by foot.

Various Ancient Modes of Transportation
I. Man Power:
1. Carrying Pole- balancing on one shoulder that has started in China.
2. Backload and Tumpline
3. Sledge on Rollers
4. Sledge on Runners- used at the end of the Old Stone Age in Northern Europe.
5. Travois
II. Animal Power: It was used to save labor.

1. Ox- First domesticated in Mesopotamia to draw war chariots while it was used in some parts of Africa for
riding.
2. Reindeer- First domesticated in Siberia
3. Dog- used to draw small carts in Europe.
4. Donkey- First domesticated in Middle East. Today, it is still the chief beast burden among the farmers of the
Near East, Mediterranean Area and Mexico, where it was introduced from Spain.
5. Llama- Used in high Andes as pack animal by the Incas and their Spanish conquerors.
6. Elephant- Used by Carthaginians (African Elephant) in their war against Rome.
7. Horse- used to draw chariots
8. Camel
9. Yak- III.
Wind Power
1. Ancient Chinese Kite
2. Da Vinci’s Ornithopter- Leonardo da Vinci it was based from the flight of birds.
3. Montgolfier Balloon- France Joseph Michel and Jacques Entienne Balloon was used to condemn prisoners
but was protested.
4. Siemens’ Rocket Plane- Ernst Werner Von Siemens He designed a rocket plane that was propelled by an
explosive force of gunpowder.
5. Santos Dumont’s Airship- Alberto Santos Dumont He is one of the pioneers of lighter- than- air craft.

The Origin of the Word Traffic

The word traffic originates from a Greco-Roman word “Trafico” with reference to the movement of
people that dates back from the dawns of history, from the domesticated horse drawn wheels to horseless
carriage. The Greek originally called the system “Trafiga” after the early horse-drawn chariots with spoke
wheels.

If savant of Rome is to be believed, there is no dispute that the word trafigo is a Greco-Roman word, but
the word traffic was crafted from the famous “Trafalgar Square” the hub-center of commerce and culture in
the heart of London.

But in Latin, the word traffic is denominated as “Commercium” with reference to the movement and
control of goods in transit, from unwheeled axle to horseless carriage. This intellectual discourse of discoveries
only to reinforce the universal dictum, that traffic refers to the movement of people and goods and not vehicle.

Early 16th century via obsolete French Trafique from Old Italian Traffico from Tafficare ‘to carry on
trade’ of uncertain origin.

The Three E’s of Traffic: The concept of traffic was originated from Egypt even though it was claimed
by other countries. While its sophistication and the principle of the three E’s Enforcement, Engineering and
Education was developed in Rome, there is however, no historical barrier that the original traffic philosophy
began in Egypt.
 Horseless Carriage: The French invention of motorized carriage in 1898 and the American introduction
of locomotive a year later, further accelerated the development of traffic. In the same vein, the horse-drawn
(Calesa) saw a new competition on the road when in 1909 the first ever car arrived in Manila through one
George Richard.

Traffic Management Is an executive function such as plan, organizes, direct, supervise, coordinate,
operate, record, and budget traffic affairs. It also refers to all agencies having tasks for ascertaining traffic flow
requirements, such as planning, approving funding, constructing and/or maintaining public facilities for such
movement. Further, it also refers to all agencies responsible for licensing, approving, and stopping, restricting,
prohibiting, or controlling the use of these facilities.

Traffic It refers to the movement of persons, goods or vehicles, either powered by combustion system or animal
drawn from one place to another for the purpose of safe travel.

Roadway it refers to that part of the traffic way over which motor vehicles pass.

Shoulder it refers to the either side of the roadway, especially along highways.

Traffic Way Refers to the entire width between boundary lines of every way or place of which any part is open
to use of the public for purposes of vehicular traffic as a matter of right or custom.

Sidewalk it is an integral part of the roadway, the answer to the safety of pedestrians.

Agencies Involved in traffic Management

1. Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC)

2. City or Municipal Engineer’s Office
3. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
4. Legislative (Congress/City or Municipal Boards)
5. TMG-PNP
6. Academic Institution
7. Court
8. Public Information Office
9. Citizens Support Group
10. Media
11. Others Traffic - may consist of pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, street cars and other
conveyances either singly or together while using the public way for purposes of travel.

Traffic - may consist of pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, street cars and other conveyances
either singly or together while using the public way for purposes of travel.

Traffic laws - laws which govern traffic and regulate vehicles.

Traffic signs/road signs - are signs erected at the side of the roads to provide information to road users.

Rules of the road - are the laws and the informal rules that may have developed overtime to facilitate the
orderly and timely flow of traffic.

Right of way - is a strip of land that is granted, through an easement or other mechanism for transportation
purposes such as for a trail, driveway, rail line or highway
. - the legal right, established by usage or grant, to pass along a specific route through property belonging to
another.

Traffic signal/Traffic light - a visual signal to control the flow of traffic at intersections.

Highway - any public road. A main road especially one connecting major town or cities.

Speed limit - define the maximum, minimum or no speed limit and are normally indicated using a traffic sign.

Hit and run - is the act of causing a traffic accident and failing to stop and identify oneself afterwards.

Traffic accident - occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris or other
statutory obstruction such as tree or utility pole.

Mary Ward - world’s first road traffic death including a motor vehicle, is alleged to have occurred on august
31, 1869, when she fell out of her cousins steam car and was run over it.

Causes of traffic accidents

1. Human factors - ex. driver behavior, visual and auditory acuity, intoxication,decision making ability and
reaction speed.

2. Motor vehicle speed.

3. Driver impairment - factors that prevent the driver at their normal level of skill. Common impairment
include, 1) alcohol use 2) physical impairment - ex. poor eyesight 3) youth - teens and early twenty aged drivers
have the highest incidence of both accidents and fatalities among all driving age group. 4) old age 5) sleep
deprivation/fatigue 6) drug use - including prescription drug.

4. Road design

5. Vehicle design and maintenance

• Seat belts - wearing seat belts reduces the risk of death by two thirds.

• maintenance - a well-designed and maintained vehicle with good breaks, tires and well-adjusted suspension
will be more controllable in an emergency and better equipped to avoid collision.

• center of gravity - roll overs have become common due to increased popularity of taller SUV and minivans
which have a higher center of gravity than standard passenger car.

• Motorcycles - have little protection.

Lesson 2 Traffic Laws

What are Traffic Laws

Traffic Laws are an attempt to provide specifications for conventional behavior on the highway. The
rules for conventional driving behavior were developed mostly from experience over the years.
 The first law concerning driving behavior resulted from custom and common usage. When automobiles
first appeared on the highway it becomes necessary to establish certain rules as to how individual drivers should
use the highway.

The major purposes of the law are the restraint of those persons and the prevention of those acts which
tends to obstruct and limit the peace and happiness of society. Since the ends of the law are the promotion of
justice and the protection of welfare, it must serve no master.

Under this consideration the purpose of traffic law enforcement like that of the general law enforcement,
is to offset selfish motivation and to condition community habits through conditioning habits of the individuals.
It is the basic requirement in an orderly economic and social development of streets and highway transportation.
Traffic law like anybody of the law, is futile unless it is inherently sound and supported by effective
enforcement machinery.

What is Traffic Law Enforcement

Traffic Law enforcement is the action taken by the police and the court to compel obedience to traffic
laws and ordinances regulating the use and movement of motor vehicles for the purpose of creating a deterrent
to unlawful behavior & by all potential violators.

Enforcement of Traffic Legislation is the area of activity aimed at controlling road user behavior by
preventive, persuasive and punitive methods is order to effect the safe and efficient movement of traffic.

Traffic Law enforcement as it applies to statutes, ordinances and legally authorized regulations relating
to use of streets and highways and ownership and operation of motor vehicles.

Objectives of Traffic Law

1. Preventive activities. Includes preventive patrols, directing and supervising traffic, investigating
accidents and eliminating road hazards.

2. Persuasive activities. Includes oral or written warnings or visible patrol.

3. Punitive activities. Normally includes by the courts and/or traffic authorities.

Purpose - Is to offset selfish motivation and to condition community habits through conditioning of habits of
individuals.

Functions Police Traffic Law Enforcement

The part of traffic law enforcement performed by the police and other agencies with police power
including to deterrent to law violation created by the presence of the uniformed police officers and their special
equipment, special assistance to courts and prosecutors and incidental service to highway users.

Court Traffic Law Enforcement

The part of traffic law enforcement performed by the court by adjudication and penalization. These two
major functions of traffic law enforcement indicate that the court and police play a major role for the successful
implementation of any traffic law enforcement program requiring close coordination between these two
agencies. It is quite obvious that no traffic law enforcement would be considered successful unless both of the
agencies mentioned are also successful and coordinative in their respective functions.
 The need for a close relationship between these two agencies is well emphasized by the police-court
enforcement process which involves five (5) essential phases with the police providing varying responsibilities
and influence over each of these five steps, to wit:

- Detection – is a wholly a police function which requires adequate training and experience on the part
of the police to make them more effective in their enforcement responsibilities while assigned in the field.

- Apprehension – is a police function requiring the application of the various traffic law enforcement
responsibilities designed to: o Prevent such violations from endangering persons and property or
inconveniencing other users of the traffic way o Prevent continued violations o Discourage future repetitions

- Prosecution – while this is a court function the police on the other hand provides corresponding
influence through the preparation and introduction of evidence or provides close liaisoning with the prosecution
officer of the law. –

Adjudication – is a court function which the police provides influence on this phase by acting as
witness to the prosecution by providing additional evidence.

- Penalization – in this last phase, the court imposes the penalty to the respondent that the weight of the
penalty is influenced largely upon presentation of evidence in court past or previous criminal records of the
respondent by the police.

The Enforcement activities can be narrowed down into three (3) important goals which maybe enumerated as
follows:

- To increase safety level. This means that the enforcement efforts should be directed towards the
reduction of accidents and/or minimizing their effects focusing on the campaign against hazardous moving
violations.

- To increase efficiency. This goal of enforcement activity is achieved through effective traffic
management approaches but more particularly in the enforcement action on the part of the police.

- To ensure harmonious and comfortable environment. This refers to the result of the first and second
above-mentioned policy which when implemented with maximization of departments resources it will make
increase the efficiency of safety.

In the attainment of the function of the various goals and objectives of traffic law enforcement, it is important to
study the traffic enforcement system. The major elements in the traffic enforcement system are as follows:

• The enforcement system – it consists of the legislation, the courts and penalties. Legislation defines
and specifically corrects the road user behavior. The police and the court to a lesser extend traffic authorities are
charged with responsibility of ensuring that these laws are adhered to. Preventive, persuasive, punitive
techniques are used to induce compliance with legislation.

• The road user system – includes pedestrians, pedal cyclists, drivers, and passengers. The road user
system can be defined in terms of knowledge, skills, attitudes and characteristics such as age, sex, health, road
experience, etc. These factors affect road user which is controlled favorably by the enforcement system.

• The traffic system – it consists of the entire road and vehicle complex. Traffic Laws and the Role of
Enforcement is a complex activity because it deals directly with human behavior. It is concerned with people’s
attitude, habits, personality and motives. In order to deal with traffic law violation effectively, it is necessary to
understand something about the following:

Traffic Law violations are classified in two groups:

a. Hazardous traffic law violations

1) Unsafe behavior
2) Unsafe condition
b. Other traffic law violations
“Why people violate laws”
1. Physical disabilities or infirmities
2. Mental disorders
3. Lack of training and experience
4. Wrong attitude towards driving, risk taking, wrong enforcement of traffic laws.
5. habitual traffic violations
6. Drivers of public utility vehicles for increase compensation and commission.

“What makes people deter in committing violations in traffic”

1. Fear of fine and punishment
2. Loss of driving privileges
3. Possibility of being involved in accident
4. Positive area of good citizenship, doing what is right and setting a good example

How enforcement affects drivers. The effects of law enforcement are often subtle and far reaching.
Understanding the effects will provide a better understanding of the objectives of enforcement clearly.

The causes of human behavior can be classified into two general categories:
• Positive motives which induce a person to seek something for the satisfaction it will or is expected to provide.
Ex. Strong desire to drive faster than that conditions would dictate as safe.
• Negative motives that cause people to avoid actions they know or believe will have unpleasant consequences.
If the conflicting motive exists, people tend to rely on the stronger force and sometimes take illegal behavior
like driving faster that what the law requires.
Enforcement is therefore directed toward those situations which the driver’s positive desires are in conflict with
conventional behavior prescribed by law by developing negative or avoidance actions on the part of the divers.
The principal power of enforcement is the power to punish or make a forbidden act not unpleasant.
Two ways Enforcement creates feelings or beliefs in drivers:

1. Observational effect. When a driver sees a police officer or identifiable police vehicle, he is reminded that
he must obey the law or suffer the consequences. Few drivers violate traffic laws when they are in the
presence of police officers. The officer is a symbol of authority who inhibits certain types of driving behavior.
The determination of how long this effect will last after the officer leaves the immediate vicinity depends
largely on: the strength of the authority symbol is determined principally by what the enforcement officer
should do. If they take action each time a violation and dangerous driving practice is observed, the deterrent
effect of seeing an officer tends to be high and lasting. If the action is intermittent the deterrent effect is
likely low and short lived. Thus, the frequency of observation depends of largely on the availability of the
police personnel.
 2. By Reputation. The long-range effect of enforcement programs in the community creates the general beliefs
concerning police and enforcement which does not depend directly upon seeing a police officer. If the
enforcement is consistent and active on a long period of time drivers will develop the feeling that their risk of
being apprehended is highly probable, they refrain from committing the violations for fear of apprehension. As
a result, the long-term consistent enforcement of traffic laws changes the driving habits of the community and
gradually behavior on driving start to take place. It is the influencing effect ‘by reputation’ that enforcement
strives to attain. It is the long-range effects that lead to permanent improvements in the driving habits of the
community.

Lesson 3

Pursuit in Traffic Enforcement

Pursuit in traffic is part of the routine enforcement activity performed by the police and is used when the driver
is detected in violations. Pursuit is part of apprehension of a violator.
When to pursue – when the violator fails to stop on signals, the normal reaction
1. Decision type and seriousness of violation is an important factor to pursuit.
2. Pursuit techniques.
3. Safety driving pursuit

In general, a driver who is aware of his violations in the presence of the police will stop his vehicle when
signaled to do so. At this instance, apprehension is complete and pursuit is not anymore necessary. However,
when the driver is detected in violation and ask to stop and failed to stop then pursuit is necessary until
apprehended.

Pursuit and successful apprehension of a violator may require the operation of the police vehicle at high speed
for an extended distance type of pursuit. Pursuit must always be tempered with common sense and foresight of
likely hazards based on the chance of being taken. Better judgment is used in deciding to lose a violator who
can be apprehended at another time than to pursue at a great risk to the traffic officer and other people in the
highway.

Stopping & Approaching a Traffic Violator Stopping & approaching a violator is complete when you have
stopped the violator’s vehicle and moved to the place where you will begin to talk. In stopping a violator, select
a place where it is possible to stop the violator promptly, efficiently, & safely. He must be able to pull-off the
traveled roadway or out of the moving traffic. Stopping a violator must be done in safety to you, the driver, & to
others. Approach the violator on the left side from the rear & be alert for the unexpected

Traffic Road Check

1. Objectives: to detect or inspect the following:
a. Faulty vehicle equipment.
b. Registration and licensing violation.
c. Intoxication or cargo of commercial or transportation for load weight.

2. Consideration during road check

a. Minimum delay to motorist.
b. Thorough checking procedure.
c. Protecting and safety of both motorist and officer.
d. Timing, location and frequency.
Officer-Violator Relationship
1. Two objectives in dealing with violator:
a. Immediate objectives – is enforcement action against the driver.
b. Ultimate objectives – is to change his future driving behavior.
Note: An officer seldom gets complaints on the violation but usually on the manner in which he treated the
violator.
2. Important points to remember: a
. Violators are vastly different from one another.
b. There are many conflicts in a violator as there are in an officer.
c. You are professional officer. There are no professional violators.
d. Be alert for the unexpected.

Lesson 4 Traffic Management, Supervision, Direction and Control

Traffic management is the organization, arrangement, guidance and control of both stationary and moving
traffic, including pedestrians, bicyclists and all types of vehicles.

Its aim is to provide for the safe, orderly and efficient movement of persons and goods, and to protect and,
where possible, enhance the quality of the local environment on and adjacent to traffic facilities. It is an
executive function such as plan, organize, direct, supervise, coordinate, operate, record, and budget traffic
affairs.

It also refers to all agencies having tasks for ascertaining traffic flow requirements, such as planning, approving
funding, constructing and/or maintaining public facilities for such movement. Further, it also refers to all
agencies responsible for licensing, approving, stopping, restricting, prohibiting, or controlling the use of these
facilities.

In traffic management traffic flow improvement is of the essence in order to:

a. Prevent collisions or congestion through proper allotment of time and space.
b. Disputed area – area used by two units in traffic movement at the same time with only 50% efficiency.
c. Facilitate the movement of traffic speedily and safely.
d. The need to use roads to the fullest extend – primarily built to move the traffic and not for leisure’s purposes.

Traffic Supervision – Keeping order on the street and highway within existing regulations to make their use
safe and expeditious.

All men on the department should be trained to conduct:

- Traffic Investigation
- Traffic Law Enforcement
- Traffic Directions and Control
All traffic officers in the department should be trained to direct traffic at the following:
a. Accident scene
b. Other emergencies
c. Planned special events
d. Regular point and interrogation control
e. Directing pedestrian’s movement
Supervised Route – Any street or highway on which traffic is supervised to some considerable degree.

Police Traffic Direction – It is defined as telling drivers and pedestrians how and where they may or may not
move or stand at a particular place, especially during emergencies or period of congestion. (a) may have to
answer inquiries, (b) make emergency rules.

What is Traffic – Traffic is refers to the movement of vehicles and pedestrians or herded animals on the
highway.
What is Traffic Control – refers to the control of vehicles, pedestrians at a certain point or certain area by
mechanical means, fixed objects, or manpower.

Three (3) Major Elements of Traffic Enforcement system

1. Traffic Enforcement System – consists of legislation, the police, and the court.
2. Road User System – includes pedestrians, pedal cyclists, drivers, and passengers.
3. Traffic System – consists of the entire road and vehicle complex.

Three (3) Basic Elements of Highway Transportation System (HTS) – Man, Vehicle, Highway
Environment. The objective of HTS is to provide efficient & safe transportation movement of people & goods.
Major Causes of Congestion
- Physical barrier
a. Not enough room
b. The highway capacity like narrow bridges, rail road, crossings, etc.

- Poor Control devices

a. Mechanical
b. Officers
o Both not functioning properly
o Inadequate personnel

- Human errors
a. Slow drivers or poor driving habits
b. Pedestrian mistakes
c. Poor planning and maintenance
d. Inflexibility

- Intersection Capacity – measured by the number of vehicles and pedestrians per hour
- Government factors:
a. Available lanes
b. Turning lanes
c. Types of traffic (cars, buses, trucks, or pedestrians)
d. Channelization
e. Distance between intersection
f. Presence or absence of signals
g. Nature of intersection
h. Street lighting
i. Sight limits
j. Pedestrian islands

- Factors decreasing efficiency

a. Permitting turns
b. Improper parking adjacent to intersection
c. Jaywalking
d. Railroad crossing, bridges, etc.
e. Bus loading zones
f. Improper control – officer or mechanical

Measures to Eliminate Traffic Congestion

- Eliminate turns
- Control parking
- Use turning lanes
- Coordinate other intersections

Directing / Guiding Traffic

- Use hand signals to designate decision to motorists and pedestrians
- Signals must be uniform and understood by motorists
- Must clear and positive
- Do not give them verbally
- Be alert and erect
- Look at the person you are signaling
- The arm signals should be shoulder high and with full circular motion of the arm for GO
- Supplement the arm signals with whistle.
 One long blast for STOP
 Two short snappy blasts for GO
 Three blasts to be used for Assistance
- If two or more men assigned in one intersection, only one man makes all the decisions. The others take the cue
from him.
- If in traffic light, the light signal should be off or on amber.
- Stand sideways to incoming traffic and on broadside to stop traffic.
- Let hands hang at side when not using them.
- Constant waving of hands is confusing and has been used to slow traffic.
- When changing phases accompany it with a 90 degree turn of the body.
- It turns are permitted, describe the movement to be made with the arm.
- To stop a moving lane, point out the car you intend to stop and give him the opportunity to stop. Stop at one
lane at a time.
- The hand signal should be made with the arm extended and the palm facing the person to be stopped. - Night
control of the traffic:
 If sufficient light, work as in daylight
 If flashlight is used –
o To Stop – direct it in his line of vision and move back and forth.
o To Start – use the same motion as in daylight except with flashlight.
o Supplement with a whistle.
- Position of the officer:
If no traffic light, the officer should be in the middle of the intersection.
Affords better control for the officer
 Officer is not blocked from the sight of the motorists
Lesson 5 Traffic Violations and Enforcement Method

Traffic Law Enforcement – part of law enforcement performed by the police & other agencies with police
power it includes the deterrent to law violation from endangering persons or property, prevent continued
violations, and to discourage future repetitions. The application of special equipment, special assistance to
courts & prosecutors and incidental service to highway users also form part of its functions.

Hit and Run – evading responsibility is a term commonly applied to a traffic accident in which the driver fails to
comply with any of the duties required by law as stopping, giving aid, and revealing his identity.

Exceptions:
1. if he is in imminent danger of being seriously harmed by any person or persons by reason of the accident.
2. if he reports the accident to the nearest officers of the law; or
3. if he has reports to summon a physician or nurse to aid the victim.

Sec 55 of RA 4136. Duty of the driver in case of accident. In the event that any accident should occur as a result
of the operation of the motor vehicle on a highway, the driver shall stop immediately and if requested by any
person present shall show his drivers license, give his true name and address and also the true name and address
of the owner of the motor vehicle. No driver of a motor vehicle concerned in a vehicle accident without aiding
the victim, except under any of the following circumstances:

a. if he is in imminent danger of being seriously harmed by any person or persons by reason of the accident;
b. If he reports the accident to the nearest officers of the law; or
c. If he has to summon a physician or nurse to aid the victim.

Reckless Driving – is primarily a dangerous driving conduct and attitude, which indicates a lack of concern for
injurious consequences likely to result.

Requisites:
1. the person was driving
2. a vehicle
3. with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property

What has to be proven. To initiate enforcement action for reckless driving under the provisions of the standard
law, three (3) things must be proven:

a. the person was driving

b. a vehicle
c. with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property

Reckless driving therefore is not a specified act in itself but a manner and a character of driving indicating the
drivers indifferent state of mind with regard to consequences.

Sec. 48 RA 4136. No person shall operate a motor vehicle on any highway recklessly or without reasonable
caution considering the width, traffic, grades, crossings, curvatures, visibility and other conditions of the
highway and the conditions of the atmosphere and weather or so as to endanger the property of safety or rights
of any person or so as to cause excessive or unreasonable damage to the highway.
Right-of -Way Offenses

Means the right to proceed ahead of another vehicle or pedestrian. A high percentage of all collision occur at
intersections. Many of these are could be attributed to driver uncertainty or failure to observe the rules of right-
of-way.

It’s basically who has the right to go first at an intersection, when merging lanes, or when coming across a
pedestrian lane as defined by the law. More importantly, it’s about giving way to the other party as a sense of
courtesy and a practice of road safety.

RA No. 4136, Article III, Section 42 (c) states that the driver of any vehicle must yield the right of way to a
pedestrian crossing any road as long as they are within a crosswalk. That’s unless there’s a traffic enforcer or
traffic signal in place then the movement of traffic will be determined by the enforcer or stop light. Pedestrians
crossing elsewhere, on the other hand, will have to give the right of way to the vehicle.

Section 42. Right of way. (a) When two vehicles approach or enter an intersection at approximately the same
time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right of way to the vehicle on the right, except as
otherwise hereinafter provided. The driver of any vehicle traveling at an unlawful speed shall forfeit any right of
way which he might otherwise have hereunder.

(b) The driver of a vehicle approaching but not having entered an intersection, shall yield the right of way to a
vehicle within such intersection or turning therein to the left across the line of travel of such first-mentioned
vehicle, provided the driver of the vehicle turning left has given a plainly visible signal of intention to turn as
required in this Act.

(c) The driver of any vehicle upon a highway within a business or residential district shall yield the right of way
to a pedestrian crossing such highway within a crosswalk, except at intersections where the movement of traffic
is being regulated by a peace officer or by traffic signal. Every pedestrian crossing a highway within a business
or residential district, at any point other than a crosswalk shall yield the right of way to vehicles upon the
highway.

(d) The driver of a vehicle upon a highway shall bring to a full stop such vehicle before traversing any "through
highway" or railroad crossing: Provided, that when it is apparent that no hazard exists, the vehicle may be
slowed down to five miles per hour instead of bringing it to a full stop.

Section 43. Exception to the right of way rule.

(a) The driver of a vehicle entering a highway from a private road or drive shall yield the right of way to all
vehicles approaching on such highway.

(b) The driver of a vehicle upon a highway shall yield the right of way to police or fire department vehicles and
ambulances when such vehicles are operated on official business and the drivers thereof sound audible signal of
their approach.

(c) The driver of a vehicle entering a "through highway" or a "stop intersection" shall yield the right of way to
all vehicles approaching to either direction on such "through highway": Provided, That nothing in this
subsection shall be construed as relieving the driver of any vehicle being operated on a "through highway" from
the duty of driving with due regard for the safety of vehicles entering such "through highway" nor as protecting
the said driver from the consequence of an arbitrary exercise off such right of way.
Section 49. Right of way for police and other emergency vehicles. - Upon the approach of any police or fire
department vehicle, or of an ambulance giving audible signal, the driver of every other vehicle shall
immediately drive the same to a position as near as possible and parallel to the right-hand edge or curb of the
highway, clear of any intersection of highways, and shall stop and remain in such position, unless otherwise
directed by a peace officer, until such vehicle shall have passed.
Lesson 5

Traffic - may consist of pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, street cars and other conveyances
either singly or together while using the public way for purposes of travel. Traffic laws - laws which govern
traffic and regulate vehicles. Traffic signs/road signs - are signs erected at the side of the roads to provide
information to road users. Rules of the road - are the laws and the informal rules that may have developed
overtime to facilitate the orderly and timely flow of traffic. Right of way - is a strip of land that is granted,
through an easement or other mechanism for transportation purposes such as for a trail, driveway, rail line
or highway. - the legal right, established by usage or grant, to pass along a specific route through
property belonging to another. Traffic signal/Traffic light - a visual signal to control the flow of traffic at
intersections. Highway - any public road. A main road especially one connecting major town or cities.
Speed limit - define the maximum, minimum or no speed limit and are normally indicated using a traffic
sign. Hit and run - is the act of causing a traffic accident and failing to stop and identify oneself afterwards.
Traffic accident - occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris or
other statutory obstruction such as tree or utility pole. Mary Ward - worlds first road traffic death
including a motor vehicle, is alleged to have occurred on august 31, 1869, when she fell out of her cousins
steam car and was run over it. Causes of traffic accidents Human factors - ex. driver behavior, visual and
auditory acuity, intoxication,decision making ability and reaction speed. Motor vehicle speed. Driver
impairment - factors that prevent the driver at their normal level of skill. Common impairment include, 1)
alcohol use 2) physical impairment - ex. poor eyesight 3) youth - teens and early twenty aged drivers have
the highest incidence of both accidents and fatalities among all driving age group. 4) old age 5) sleep
deprivation/fatigue 6) drug use - including prescription drug. Road design Vehicle design and
maintenance seat belts - wearing seat belts reduces the risk of death by two thirds. maintenance - a well
designed and maintained vehicle with good breaks, tires and well adjusted suspension will be more
controllable in an emergency and better equipped to avoid collision. center of gravity - roll overs have
become common due to increased popularity of taller SUV and minivans which have a higher center of
gravity than standard passenger car. motorcycles - have little protection. Skid mark - is the mark a tire
makes when a vehicle wheel stops rolling and slides or spins on the surface of the road. skid marks are
caused by rubbers deposited on the road. one form of trace evidence, when their size and shape can
reveal much about the vehicle speed and forces of acceleration or deceleration. the length of the skid
mark is closely related to the vehicle speed at the instant of breaking, measuring the marks yields an
estimate of original speed. Locard exchange principle - was postulated by Edmong Locard in the 20th
century which states that with contact between two items, there will be an exchange. Every contact leaves
a trace. Everywhere you go, you take something with you and you leave something behind. Skid mark are
divided into: acceleration marks - created on acceleration if the engine provides more power that the tire
can transmit. braking marks - if the brakes "lock-up" and cause the tire to slide. yaw marks - if the tire slide
sideways.