MANILA AT NIGHT
The stretch of Taft Avenue extension going to Manila City Hall during rush hour
Photo file/THEPHILBIZNEWS
By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios
As social distancing in the time of COVID19 calls for less physical contact, curbing corruption is also another reason why a ‘no contact apprehension’ has been adapted by many cities.
This would also prompt the motorists to be extra careful and mindful of observing traffic rules as more local governments are very keen on embarking the no-contact apprehension program (NCAP). Since it was launched three years ago when it pioneered in Paranaque and most recently, in Valenzuela, studies show a 40% drastic drop in traffic violations in both cities.
According to Jason Salvador, commuter advocate and former Managing Director of Legal Engagement Advocating for Development and Reform (LEADER), the no-contact apprehension program leads to efficient traffic management, improves traffic discipline and promotes road safety.”
“This will be the new normal. Since the NCAP has been implemented more than a year ago, things have improved significantly in Paranaque and recently, in Valenzuela. Our studies show that most motorists who experience getting caught violating the city’s traffic rules often avoid being recidivists and become extra cautious in their driving afterward,” Salvador underscored.
Unlike the traditional way when traffic enforcers do the apprehensions, no contact systems rely on the latest high-resolution camera detection technologies proven to be more efficient and accurate. Salvador says more motorists became more responsible as they use metro roads because of the presence of these nondescript cameras placed in strategic locations throughout the city.
“Aware of those eyes on the road so to speak, motorists try to follow traffic rules to the letter. We observed that they’ve become disciplined especially when speed limits are there. It prevents corruption or collusion of any form. NCAP systems raise people’s trust and confidence in their city halls,” Salvador remarks.
Snapshots of motorists driving recklessly or passing yellow boxes are processed at the city’s central traffic hub. As a camera detects a violation, digital images of a driver’s car plates are sent to the hub and within seconds, details are matched with those of the driver’s in the Land Transportation Office (LTO) database.
Violators receive their citations after two weeks in their regular mailboxes. Upon receipt, violators go to the city’s traffic division to either accept the charge and pay the corresponding fine or dispute the charge before the city’s traffic adjudication board.
Those who don’t settle their citation charges are barred from renewing their car registrations before the Land Transportation Office (LTO). Several drivers who experienced NCAP attest that those high-resolution cameras make them highly aware not to commit any violation, therefore, would create awareness that would lead to more disciplined and careful drivers.
“As reports show more and more law enforcement frontliners, specifically traffic enforcers getting COVID-19 infections, creating NCAP systems to manage a city’s traffic rules also seemed more relevant now than before,” Salvador added.
After reports of the success of the NCAP systems in two cities, indications are rife that even Manila Mayor Isko Moreno wants a part of the action. As part of his plan to get the city free from kotong and turn Manila into a smart city, Moreno is also keen on implementing an NCAP system by August.
