Module 4

CDI 4

Prepared by: Mr.Gerald T. Gumaga.. RCRIM

Objectives:
At the end of this topic the students may be able to:

1. Discuss the different areas of traffic management as well as the roles of government and non-
government agencies responsible for traffic management.
2. Learn the fundamentals of traffic management.

TOPIC: FUNDAMENTALS OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

CONTENT:

FUNDAMENTALS OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

ARTERIAL HIGHWAYS/ROADS. These are high capacity urban roads that direct traffic
from collector roads to expressways or freeways

COLLECTOR HIGHWAY. It is also known as collector road or distributor road which

connects low-to-moderate highways or roads to arterial highways such as those entering
residential properties.

HIGHWAY. It means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way dedicated to a
public authority when any part of the way is open to the public for purposes of vehicular traffic,
whether or not the public authority is maintaining the way.

MANAGEMENT – It refers to the skillful use of means to accomplish a purpose.

OPERATION – Pertains to a course or series of acts to effect a certain purpose of activity.

ROADWAY – refers to that part of the traffic way over which motor vehicle will pass.

1. National Roads - these are roads/streets interconnecting provinces and/or cities.

2. Provincial Roads – these are roads/streets interconnecting municipalities and/or cities
within a province.
 3. City Roads – these are roads/streets interconnecting barangays with a city.
4. Municipal Roads – these are roads/streets interconnecting barangays within a
municipality.
5. Barangay Roads – these are roads/streets located within a barangay which connects sitios
or places within a barangay.

SHOULDER – It refers to either side of the roadway, especially along highways.

SIDEWALK. It refers to the paved walkway along the side of a street.

THROUGH HIGHWAY. It means every highway or portion thereof on which vehicular traffic
from intersecting highways required by law to yield right-of-way to vehicles on such through
highway in obedience to either an authorized stop sign or a yield sign, or other official traffic-
control device.

THRUWAY OR THROUGHWAY. It is a highway that has limited entrances and exits such as
the expressways, freeways, or motorways. It is known as “autobahn” in German-speaking
speaking countries and “autostrada” in Italian-speaking countries.

TRAFFIC – It refers to the movement of persons, goods, or vehicles either powered by a

combustion system or animal drawn, from one place to another for the purpose of travel. (early
16th century. Via obsolete French trafique from Old Italian traffico, from trafficare` to carry on
trade`, of certain origin.)

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

THE INTERSECTION.

In most American State Laws, intersection is defined as the area embraced within the
prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines, or if none, then the lateral boundary lines of
the roadways of two highways which joined one another at, or approximately at, right angles. Or
the area within which vehicles travelling upon different highways joining at any other angle may
come in conflict.(leg.state.nv.us). It’s synonymous to crossroads, junctions, or crossings.

In a simpler language, intersection refer to the area of a roadway created when two or
more roadways join together at any angle, as described in one of the following
( oregonlaws.org):

1. If the roadway has curbs, the intersection is the area embraced with
in prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines.
2. If the roadway do not curbs, the intersection is the area embraced
within the prolongation or connection of the lateral boundary lines
 of the roadway.

Classifications of Intersections According to Number of Intersecting roads:

1. 3-way Intersection – commonly known as the T or Y crossroad which links three roads.
2. 4-way Intersection – the most common type which involved the crossings of two
roadways.
3. 5-way Intersection – least common type that involves the crossing of five roads.
4. 6-way Intersection – involves crossing of three most often two perpendicular roads and
one diagonal road. This type is very rare.
5. Staggered Intersection – involves two successive T crossroads.

Classifications of Intersections According to Traffic Control:

1. Controlled Intersection – controlled by any traffic devices.

a. Yield-controlled Intersection – controlled by a Yield sign or Give way sign.
b. Stop-controlled Intersection – a Stop sign is usually installed.
c. Traffic Circle – traffic flow here is directed by a circle, rotary island, or a runabout
sign.
2. Uncontrolled Intersection – has no traffic signals or traffic signs.
3. Box Junction – this type generally prohibits entry unless the exit is clear.
4. Cloverleaf – a highway interchange at which two highways, one crossing is over the
other, have a series of entrance and exit ramps resembling the outline of a four-leaf clover
and enabling vehicles to proceed in either direction on either highway

What is Traffic Management?

The application of the processes and skills in planning, organizing, staffing, directing,
coordinating and budgeting to traffic affairs.

It also refers to the activities undertaken by a highway transportation agency to improve roadway
system safety, efficiency and effectiveness for both providers and consumers of transportation
services.

Types of Traffic Management

1. Traditional Traffic Engineering Tools or Devices, to regulate or control traffic, such as

traffic lights, traffic signs, or pavement direct the flow of traffic.
2. Advanced Technology like the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS). Examples of the
ITS are the installation of road sensors for emergency cars, global positioning devices on
motor vehicles, and road sensors attached to traffic signal lights.

Why is Traffic Management necessary?

With the advent of science and technology, new and modernized traffic facilities are introduced.
However, despite these modernization, traffic congestion persists. The only way to at least cope
up with the prevailing traffic related problems is a coordinated traffic management.

A. Major Causes of Traffic Congestion- based on studies conducted by authorities.

1. Physical Inadequacy – this is characterized by lacks of roads, narrow bridges, railroad

crossings, lack of traffic facilities, etc.

2. Poor Control Measure – this is characterized by ineffective mechanical control devices,

inefficient traffic officers, and poor implementation of traffic laws, rules and regulation.

3. Human Errors – many traffic congestion are caused by slow drivers or poor driving
habits, pedestrian mistakes, officer’s errors, poor planning, poor legislation; and traffic
accidents which are mostly attributed to human errors.

4. Poor Maintenance – oftentimes motor vehicles are stalled in traffic ways because of
unrepaired diggings, cracks on road pavement or unfinished road pavement concreting.

This can be attributed to an inappropriate budget for the maintenance of the traffic facilities.
On the other hand, police should also report lights out, damage a portion of the traffic way
expedite the action from concerned government offices.

B. Specific Traffic Problems- traffic managers and traffic control officers commonly encounter
the following traffic related problems.

1. Traffic Build-up – gradual increasing of traffic users

2. Traffic Congestions – characterized by slower speed, longer trip times and increased
vehicular queueing.
3. Traffic Jams (snarl up) – movement of traffic users is very slow or stationary
4. Bottlenecks – narrow points where traffic jams usually occur
5. Gridlocks – a state or condition of severe road congestion arising when continuous queues
of vehicles block an entire network of intersecting streets, bringing traffic in all directions
to a complete standstill. These traffic blockages are usually caused by interlocking of
intersection grids.
6. Accidents – these are events or incidents which may cause unintentional damage to
property, loss of limbs and/or death.
7. Collisions – incidents of one moving traffic unit or person striking violently against
another.

C. Scopes of Traffic Management – In connection with the above stated causes of congestion,
authorities conceived that a systematic and effective traffic management is needed which
includes but not limited to the following.

1. All public surface facilities traversing and parking and all types of conveyances for the
 movement of persons and things. This includes provisions on the rolling traffic flow as well
as provisions of the allotments of parking lots or parking places.

2. All agencies having responsibilities for ascertaining traffic flow requirements, planning,
approving, funding, construction and/or maintaining these public facilities for such
movements. These areas include traffic planning committees, those involved in traffic
engineering and the legislative bodies in the appropriations of funds.

3. All agencies responsible for licensing, approving, restricting, stopping, prohibiting or

controlling the use of these facilities. The agencies involved in this area are the Land
Transportation Office (LTO) and other traffic enforcement agencies.

D. Agencies Involved in Traffic Management – For a successful and effective traffic

management, specific roles and responsibilities are vested on the following;

1. Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) through the LTO is

responsible for the implementation of the Land Transportation Code of the Philippines
(R.A 4136) particularly on the issuance of driver’s license, registration of motor vehicles,
approval of franchises for public conveyances ( through Land Transportation Franchising
and Regulatory Board) and conducting traffic safety seminars.

2. City or Municipal Engineer’s Office – In the local level, these offices are responsible for
the planning, construction and maintenance of traffic facilities within their respective
locality.

3. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – This is the main executive
department which is responsible for the planning, construction and maintenance of traffic
facilities particularly those categorized as national highways and other major road arteries.

4. Legislative (Congress/City or Municipal Boards) – The legislative bodies are not only
responsible for the passing or amendment of laws concerning traffic but also they involved
in the planning and approval of government projects.

5. Philippine National Police (PNP) – The PNP through its Highway Patrol Group ( PNP-
HPG) ( Traffic Management group (PNP-TMG) is responsible primarily for the direct
enforcement of traffic laws, rules and regulation. They also perform other functions such
as conducting information dissemination campaigns, submitting traffic scheme proposals,
and other functions as the need arises.

6. Traffic Management Bureaus – offices created mostly under the offices of city/municipal
mayors with the primary task of assisting the local PNP traffic divisions/ units in the
enforcement of traffic ordinances/laws.

7. Academic Institution – Schools, both public and private, are responsible for the basic
 traffic education by integrating in their respective programs and curriculum subjects or
topics on traffic safety.

8. Courts – The courts are responsible for the adjudication of traffic-related field before
them.

9. Public Information Offices – The government through the Philippine information Agency
(PIA) provides the necessary updated information to the public by creating traffic safety
campaigns and other activities relating to traffic.

10. Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) - barangay tanods or barangay security
forces are the usual traffic control officers in their respective localities particularly during
times of emergencies.

11. Citizen Support groups – The private institutions or organizations also help in the
prevention of traffic congestion by assisting government offices in various activities
particularly during occasions and holidays where traffic problems are likely to happen.

12.Tri-Media (including the internet) – Government and privately-owned publications and

radio and television broadcasting companies provide necessary and updated traffic-related
information to the public through their respective programs.
With the preceding accounts, a successful traffic management is not the sole
responsibility of the government but rather a concerted effort between the government and
private organizations.