TRAFFIC

MANAGEMENT &
ACCIDENT
INVESTIGATION
Introduction
The history of transportation can be conveniently--
if over-simply--divided into period during which motive
power was most characteristically furnished by human
and animal muscle, by such natural forces as wind and
gravity, and by fuel-operated machines.

(Man power, Animal power, Wind power, Roads and

Vehicles, The Bicycle, The Automobile, Air Transport)
The Word Traffic
The word traffic originates from Greco-Roman word
“Trafico” with reference to the movement of people that dates
back from the dawns of history: The Greek originally called the
system “Trafriga”.

If savants of Rome are to be believed, there is no

dispute that the word “Trafico” is a Greco-Roman word, but the
word traffic was created from the famous “Trafalgar Square,”
the hub-center of commerce and culture in the heart of
England. But in Latin, the word traffic is denominated as
“Commercium” with reference to the movement and control of
goods in transit from un-wheeled axle to horseless carriage.
Legal Basis in the Traffic Management Process

1. Republic Act No. 4136, “The Land Transportation Code of

the Philippines, as Amended”.
2. Republic Act No. 7160, “The Act Providing for a Local
Government Code of 1991”.

Definition of Traffic Management

Traffic Management presupposes an understanding
of the motivation behind the behavior of motorist,
commuters, and pedestrians. Any attempt to
redirect their behavior without understanding will
not be able to effectively solve the traffic problems.
Causes of Traffic Congestion

1. Immediate
Congestion grows most obviously and at alarming rate
primarily in areas experiencing rapid population
growth, which cause parallel increase in the ownership
and use of automotive vehicles.

2. Long-Term
Commuting during certain hours add considerably to
traffic congestion. The so-called “rush-hours” are
concentrated in relatively short period each day, mainly
from 7:00 to 9:00 in the morning and from 5:00 to
7:00 in the evening, when most people rush to and
from work.
Strategies in Resolving Traffic Congestion

1. Supply-Side Strategy
Expansion of the peak-hour carrying capacity of an area’s
transportation system seems to be the most intuitively obvious
response to greater congestion can be implemented through
diverse means:

1) building more roads or widening existing ones in areas

that have experienced rapid growth; and
2) making transportation systems more efficient.

2. Demand Side
One of the demand-side tactics transportation economist
advocate is peak-hour pricing. This is achieved by charging all
drivers who use crowded highways during peak-hours a toll large
enough to discourage many others from doing so. Another
demand-side strategy is shifting peak-hour trips to other times of
the day. This may be achieved by staggering work hours among
different organizations, adopting flextime policies or even four-
day weeks. Changing week hours would slightly more effective
at reducing congestion in the morning.
The 5E’s of Traffic Management

The concepts of traffic although originated in Egypt are

being claimed by other countries. While its sophistication
and the principle of the 3E’s—Enforcement, Engineering,
Education, Environment & Economics.

Definition of Traffic Enforcement

It is an action taken by the traffic law enforcers and the

count to compel obedience to traffic laws and
ordinances, regulating the movement and use of motor
vehicle for the purpose of creating deterrence to unlawful
behavior by all potential violators.
The Five (5) Essential Steps of Traffic Enforcement

1. Detection - Wholly a traffic law enforcer’s responsibility and

entails in looking for the defects in the behavior of motorist,
pedestrians, vehicles, equipment, and roadway condition.
However, requires knowledge of law on the part of the traffic law
enforcers.
2. Apprehension - Wholly a traffic law enforcers responsibility
where the traffic law enforcers are required to take action at
once to prevent continued and future violations.
3. Prosecution - While this is a court function the traffic law
enforcers also provides corresponding influence through
preparation and introduction of evidence or by close contact with
the prosecuting officer.
4. Adjudication - While this is obviously a court function, the
traffic law enforcers provides influence on this step by acting as
witness to the prosecution or supplying additional evidences, this
step determines the guilt or innocence of the respondents.
5. Penalization - The court imposes the penalty upon the
respondents. The penalty is greatly influenced by previous
records of conviction as provided by the traffic law enforcers.
Major Elements of Traffic Law Enforcement Activities

1. Enforcement System
Consist of legislation, police and the courts. Legislation
defines and specifies correct or incorrect road user behavior.
Traffic law enforcers and the courts is charged with the
responsibility of insuring that these laws are adhered to.

2. Road User System

Includes pedestrians, pedal cyclist, drivers, passengers and
others.

3. Traffic System
Consist of the entire road and vehicle complex.
Kinds of Traffic Law Enforcers Action
1. Arrest
It is enforcement actions which consist of taking person into custody for the
purpose of holding or detaining him to answer a charge of law violation
before a court. Arrest is made when the:
 1) the offense committed is serious;
 2) detention is necessary to avoid continued violation; and
 3) there is reasonable doubt that the violator will not appear in court.

2. Traffic Citation
A means of having violators appear in court, without physical
arrest. Kinds of which are:
 1) Traffic Citation Ticket;
 2) Temporary Operators Permit;

3) Traffic Warning
An enforcement action which does not contemplate possible assessment of
penalty by the court or otherwise as a results of warning alone. It is of
three (3) types: 1) visual; 2) verbal; and 3) written
Definition of Traffic Supervision

It is defined as keeping informed on streets, highways

within existing regulations to make their use safe and
expeditious.

Definition of Traffic Control

The control of vehicles or pedestrian at a certain point or

area by mechanical means, fixed objects or manpower.

Traffic Engineering

Forecasting of future traffic and evaluating the magnitude

of street hazards through traffic engineering is not as
simple as measuring the height, length and width of the
cube.
Definition of Traffic Engineering

Traffic Engineering is the science of:

1.Measuring traffic and travel.

2.The study of basic laws relative to the traffic law and
generations.
3.The application of this knowledge to the professional
practice of planning, deciding, and operating traffic system
to achieve safe and efficient transportation and goods.

Geometric Design
A traffic engineering phraseology for forecasting future
traffic demand on target year for road design. It is
indicator dictated by development of land use, industry,
economy, and population component.
Functions of Traffic Engineering

1. Fact finding, surveys and recommendations of

traffic rules and regulations.
2. Supervisions and maintenance to the
application of traffic control devices.
3. Planning of traffic regulations.

Kinds of Traffic Control Devices

1. Traffic Signals
2. Road Signs
3. Road Markings
Functional Classification of Traffic Control Devices

1. Regulatory Devices
It is having an authority of the law and impose precise
requirement upon the action of the road user.

2. Warning Devices
Are used to inform the road user of potentially hazardous
roadway conditions or unusual traffic movements which
are not readily apparent to passing traffic.

3. Guiding Devices
Are employed simply to inform the road user of route,
destination, and other pertinent information.
Classes of Traffic Signs

1. Danger Warning Signs

These signs are intended to warn road users of danger that lies
ahead of its nature.
2. Regulatory Signs
These are intended to warn road users of special obligations,
restrictions or prohibition with which they must comply. It is
subdivided into three categories:
1) Priority Signs b1-B-D B2
These are signs intended to regulate priority over a particular
road section or roadway intersection.
2) Prohibitory or Restrictive Signs C1A &B C2 C3
These signs can be used on specified section of the road which
will be easily seen by motorist to indicate regulation which is
prohibitive or restrictive in nature.
3) Mandatory Signs
These signs are intended to guide road users of special rules in
which they must comply for the safety, convenience and smooth
flow of traffic.
3. Informative Signs
These signs are intended to guide road users while traveling, and
are subdivided into:
1) Advance Signs
These are the names and distances of the principal destination or
destination served by the intersecting roads.
2) Direction Signs
Unlike the advance direction signs, direction signs shall be placed at
the right of intersection to show the direction and destination of a
route. Direction signs are different from mandatory signs, since
these signs gave only information as to direction and destination of
place, while mandatory signs require compliance.
3) Place Identification Signs
These may be used to show the frontier between two countries or
for the purpose of showing the beginning and/or end of built-up
areas.
4) Confirmatory Signs
These are used to confirm the direction of a road. They shall bear
the names of one or more places. Where distances are shown, the
figures expressing them shall be placed after the name of the
locality.
5) Other signs providing useful information to guide drivers.
6) Other signs indicating facilities for road users.
Danger Warning Signs
Cautionary signs
Information signs
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