Analysis of the Advance Technology Use in Traffic Management

Submitted By:
Thinkers
Cauilan, Darrel Rofred
Agana, Francesse Claire
Gregorio, Clariz Anne
Obrique, Finna Rose
Tolentino, Robert John

Submitted to:
Ms. Adel Circulado Cabantan

Date Submitted:
February 28, 2014

Table of Contents

Topic

Page

Summary

Introduction

2-3

Discussion

3-4

Conclusion

Recommendation

References

Summary
Major roads are no longer sufficient to accommodate the rapidly rising traffic
volume.The situation is made worse by outmoded traffic signals, poor road conditions
and a lack of efficient public transport. A mere accident on an important intersection is
likely to paralyze many streets for hours. Although the number of vehicles on the
roadway is the major contributor to congestion, it is also the one factor that cannot be
countered significantly. It is not realistically possible to either reduce the number of
vehicles in the city or to increase the amount of road space (i.e. wider roads, elevated
roads, etc) enough to have any lasting impact on congestion. Los Angeles, New York,
London; these cities all experience congestion. But there is one big difference between
the way traffic moves in those places and the way it moves in Manila. In those cities,
discipline (both self-imposed and enforced) keeps the system orderly. Intersections
function effectively, and lines of traffic, although heavy, criss-cross through them
relatively smoothly. In other words, while there is congestion in those cities, it is a
congestion which results entirely from volume. Discipline is really a great factor in road
but advance technology will also be a big solution in managing the chaotic traffic
problems in Metro Manila. Installation of traffic lights, road signs and warnings should
be implemented.

Introduction
Traffic management is a term used to embody the activities undertaken by a
highway transportation agency to improve roadway system safety, efficiency, and
effectiveness for both providers and consumers of transportation services. There are
two distinct types of traffic management. The first one utilizes traditional traffic
engineering tools or simple devices to regulate or control traffic. The second relies more
on advanced technology through the use of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)."
(Sigua, 2008)
"ITS is the application of information and communication technologies to surface
traffic and transportation systems. "(Sigua, 2008) The key goal of ITS is to build
integrated systems for people, roads, and vehicles in order to resolve problems of road
transportation, including traffic congestion, traffic accidents, and environmental damage.
All roadways were made with devices used in traffic controlling. Among the most
notable to the motorists are those used to communicate directly with the driver. Broadly,
these fall into three categories: signs, signals or pavement markings. These assist the
drivers in navigating, in the assignment of right-of-way at intersections, indicating laws
such as speed limits, parking regulations, potential hazards and the passing and no
passing zones.
Two centuries ago, these devices were signs, nearly all informal. In the late 19th
century, they began to appeared in the largest cities at a few highly congested
intersections. They're operated manually and composed of semaphores, flags or
paddles, or in other cases, colored electric lights, all modeled on railroad signals. In the
20th century signals were automated, at first with electromechanical devices and later
with computers. In the 1920s traffic engineers learned how to coordinate signals along a
thoroughfare to increase its speeds and volumes. In the 1980s, with computers, similar
coordination of whole networks became possible.
.
In the 1920s pavement markings were introduced. Initially, they were meant to
point out the road's centerline. After that they were coded with information to help the
motorists in passing through safely. Later, with multi-lane roads, they're used to
determine lanes. Other uses, such as indicating permitted turning movements and
pedestrian crossings soon had been made.
In the 20th century, devices meant to control traffic were standardized. Traffic
Control Devices are means by which the road user is encouraged as to detailed

requirements or conditions which affect road use as a specific places and times so that
the proper action may be taken and any cause of delay or forms of accident will be
prevented. There were warning devices also to let the road users know any potentially
hazardous conditions or rare traffic movements which are not readily apparent to
passing traffic. "To have an effective trafic control device: It should be compel
attenttion; It convey simple clear meaning at a glance; it should allow adequate time for
easy response and it should command the respect of the road users for whom it is
intended "(FHWA 1988)

Discussion
Though the Philippines already has existing traffic management systems since the
1970s (Uranza, 2002), it still is not yet fully effective for the increasing volume of
vehicles traversing the streets of the archipelago. According to the Land Transportation
Office (LTO) in their Semi-Annual Report for 2013, in Metro Manila alone, there are 1.2
million vehicles that were registered between January to June 2013, that is 27% of the
total vehicles registered in the whole country.
Considering these numbers and the increasing number of people and
infrastructure in the Metro, using the traffic management system that was established
decades ago, though it had at least 4 revisions until 2002 (Uranza, 2002), is not
effective for the current situation.
For instance, in Dapitan corner Lacson Streets, heavy traffic could be expected
during rush hours. One factor could be the dismissal of the students from the different
schools surrounding the said juncture, e.g. University of Santo Tomas and Dominican
School; but another factor is the drivers of the vehicles and the traffic lights. The drivers
because even though they see that there are only a few seconds left until the light turns
red, they still move to the intersection and in the end, they block the way of those who
would pass the street. Then, there are the traffic lights, though they have countdown
timers attached with the lights, it is somehow not efficient. The reason is that the amount
of time allotted for the vehicles going north is longer than the amount of time given for
those going west. This situation is only applicable at certain times because in the
morning, more vehicles are bound west. And because of this, heavy traffic is evident in
the area causing some to get irritated because they are already running late.
Sometimes, there are traffic enforcers supervising the area which gives motorists
a bit of a relief. But most of the time, people only rely on the traffic lights to be able to
manage the situation.
It is noticeable that some traffic lights have countdown timers with them, like in
Espaa Blvd., while others do not have any timer with it. In this case, it relies on the
drivers gut feel as to when the light will turn green, yellow or red. Many are aware of

what these colors imply. Green means go, red means stop and yellow means slow
down. But some drivers tend to change the meaning of the yellow light to Faster! It will
turn red! which in the end could cause accidents.
Traffic management does not only take into consideration the vehicles that travel
on the streets but also the pedestrians who would cross. In an intersection, there is a
pedestrian lane. As the name says, it is a lane intended for pedestrians. But there are
times when vehicles still occupy this lane. One reason is that drivers tend to speed up
when they are about to reach an intersection. And when the light abruptly turns red, they
get stuck on the pedestrian lane which should not be the case.
Meanwhile, there are also traffic lights for pedestrians. Usually, nowadays, it has
a timer with it to help notify the pedestrians of the time left until the traffic light for
vehicles turns green. But in traffic lights with no timer, people could get confused as to
whether they can cross or not. There are times when people get surprised because the
light turned green immediately but they are still in the middle of the street. Their initial
reaction is to run and they can get across. But what if the pedestrian is differently abled,
say they are in a wheel chair or with crutches; they cannot run in case the situation
mentioned above happens. They could get involved in an accident and so the driver
who will accidentally hit them would blame them for crossing the street in a green light.
But initially, the pedestrian are still correct because they crossed the street while the red
light is still on. What is more alarming is that the pedestrians could be a victim of a hitand-run incident.
Moreover, even though there are traffic lights for pedestrians, sometimes, these
are not synchronized with the traffic lights for motor vehicles. This can cause confusion
on the side of the pedestrian.
Though there are ongoing improvements in the current traffic management
system spearheaded by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) amounting to
Php 2.65 billion (Villas-Alavaren, 2014), it is still not enough if the motorists and
pedestrians are not properly educated. If the system had undergone an improvement,
the people governed by it should also improve within themselves so that the whole
system will work and produce better progress.

Conclusion
The traffic in Metro Manila works like a loop. Starting with traffic, it ends with
more traffic. Installations of more improved and advanced technologies to control traffic
jams is what the group is trying to lay out. The starting point of the loop is the natural
traffic caused by overpopulation, and if the road users try to escape this by violating the
rules, what they dont know is that they actually cause more traffic. The violator is the
only one who benefits, unless he is caught or his actions cause an accident.
The problem is on the road, but the solution lies in the vehicle users. Violating road
rules in Metro Manila seems very ordinary. From the discussion, the traffic control
system in Manila, particularly the comparison between Dapitan corner Lacson St. and
the Espana Blvd. intersection along UST, has been made as a good example to see
how traffic management differ in diverse road types or classification. The kinds of traffic
system particularly the use of different traffic signals vary depending on the degree of
traffic congestion or the daily traffic count from the vehicles. Traffic signals,
advancements, road projects, and innovations will continue to arise and be
implemented in the future to make a more convenient road. The problems on the road
only arise when the road users, drivers and pedestrians, fail to follow the traffic rules. It
happens often and the violators dont seem to learn. Unless they do something about it,
nothing will change. They should educate themselves to follow the rules and
regulations. In that case there would be no chaos in the streets and innovations on the
road system will be experienced by many.
Recommendation
Though the installation of advanced technologies on the road will be a lot of help
to all road users, the researchers can say that the best thing to do is still to discipline
you. Follow the road rules with integrity. If you are caught, learn from your mistakes and
pay the real penalty.
Based on the researchers' observation, the issue on traffic mostly lies on two things.
First it's the road. Second it's the people. The minor roads in Metro Manila usually have
bad traffic-flow planning. They usually lead to bottlenecks. Although they are just minor
roads, in rush hour, almost all of these are full of cars. This is an addition to the traffic.
Considering the installations of more advanced traffic signals will be a lot of help in
major roads and highways. Next are the people. Like what was stated earlier, drivers
and pedestrians are undisciplined. Changes and convenience will be experienced by all
motor drivers if they start the change within their selves. Discipline and patience in the
road is strongly recommended by the researchers first to put the proposals of a more
advanced roads and highways into action.

References
Land Transportation Office. (2013). Semi Annual Report Jan-June 2013. Quezon City,
Philippines. Web. 26 February 2014.
<http://www.lto.gov.ph/index.php/component/jdownloads/finish/9/140?Itemid=0>
Uranza, R. The Role of Traffic Engineering and Management in Metro Manila.Workshop
paper presented in the Regional Workshop: Transport Planning, Demand
Management and Air Quality, February 2002, Manila, Philippines.
Asian
Development Bank (ADB). Web. 26 February 2014.
<http://cleanairinitiative.org/portal/system/files/articles37345_tp_20_uranza.pdf>
Villas-Alavaren, A. L. (2014, January 7) MMDA to unveil new traffic system. Manila
Bulletin. Web. 26 February 2014. <http://www.mb.com.ph/mmda-to-unveil-new
-traffic-system/>
Fundamentals of Traffic Management. (2008) Retrieved February 21,2014 from
http://books.google.com.ph/books?
id=1RoV3xm07F0C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepa
ge&q&f=false
Einjel (2014, January 9). Traffic Management. Retrieved February 21,2014 from
http://engineer-einjel.blogspot.com/2009/01/traffic-management.html