THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority yesterday said it would take at least three months to determine if the exclusive motorcycle lane along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City will reduce road accidents in the area.
MMDA spokesperson Melissa Carunungan said the effectiveness of the policy cannot be immediately determined since it was only fully enforced last Monday after a three-week dry run.
“We are still experiencing so-called birth pains. It would take at least three months before we can make a substantial assessment,” Carunungan said.
She said the agency is “closely monitoring” developments since the exclusive motorcycle lane policy is being enforced in coordination with the Quezon City Traffic Department.
“We also listen to suggestions of motorists,” she said.
Carunungan said motorists are already aware of the implementation of the policy, adding they expect the number of motorists violating the policy to progressively decline in the coming days.
“Most of the motorists adhere to the new policy. We expect they would become more disciplined due to the new policy and (this would) result to reduction in road crashes on Commonwealth Avenue,” she said.
Carunungan said data from the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center showed that 1,739 motorists — 706 motorcycle riders and 1,033 private motorists — were apprehended and fined P500 for disregarding the exclusive motorcycle lane on its first day of implementation last March 27.
The following day, 563 — 402 motorcycle riders, 150 private motorists and 11 public utility vehicle drivers — were cited by traffic enforcers.
PUV drivers disregarding the policy pay a higher fine of P1,200.
Carunungan said the MMDA has deployed 75 to 80 traffic enforcers per shift on Commonwealth Avenue, along with a 12-person motorcycle unit, to enforce the policy.
“Total deployment is around 200 traffic enforcers,” she said.
The Quezon city government has fielded 35 to 40 traffic enforcers per shift to augment the MMDA personnel.
The motorcycle lane along Commonwealth Avenue runs from Elliptical Road to Dona Carmen.
