The Metro Manila Development Authority has warned it will apprehend motorists found to be abusive of turning on hazard lights while parking illegally on secondary and major thoroughfares.
“We are calling on the public to be careful and avoid activating hazard lights. Please, don’t abuse that, it is only for emergency utilization. You will be apprehended for that,” said MMDA general manager Thomas Orbos.
The MMDA made the warning after it observed that a number of motorists use hazard warning lights as an excuse for parking illegally, especially on secondary roads.
Authorities reminded the public that hazard warning lights should be used only when the vehicle has broken down in a hazardous or dangerous location that may affect other traffic; the vehicle has broken down on the motorway and has stopped on the hard shoulder, and when the motorist intend to warn following drivers of a hazard or obstruction ahead.
Meanwhile, the MMDA also asked school administrators to enforce a 15-second policy for students alighting from or boarding vehicles in front of schools to avoid road congestion in the area.
The appeal came as the opening of classes in private schools in the National Capital Region starts this week.
The MMDA said that traffic was heavy during morning and late afternoon hours due to the surge of the students in and out of the school. It added that congestion alone is not only a matter of concern, but also the safety of students, saying erring drivers seem to pay no attention to safety areas such as school zones.
Recently, the agency relaunched a massive repainting of all pedestrian lanes, particularly those within the immediate surroundings of schools in Metro Manila, in time for the school opening.
“For the past several weeks, we have been coordinating with school offiials for our Back-to-School [program],” said Victor Nuñez, MMDA liaison officer.
Nuñez said the agency will also deploy 2,300 personnel to man traffic on major roads leading to big schools and universities, especially along Katipunan Avenue, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue and Ortigas Avenue.
“We will also be sending red uniform personnel from the MMDA anti-jaywalking team,” he said.
The Back-to-School project was spearheaded by the agency’s Traffic Engineering Center and Metro Parkways Clearing Group.
“We started the Brigada Eskwela last Friday at the Mandaluyong High School. We intend to paint 700 pedestrian lanes for the opening of classes this year,” he said.