Driving at snail’s pace in Davao
I arrived in Davao City on an evening flight last week. Traffic from the airport to the hotel was light but our van still crawled at about 30 kilometers per hour, an adjustment from speeds I’m used to in Manila. Where I come from drivers zoom away whenever the coast is somewhat clear. They cut across lanes or other vehicles unmindful of the safety of others or even their own.
“Cars in Davao City are not supposed to go beyond 30 kilometers per hour,” said Karen, our host explaining to us why our driver seemed to be taking his time.
Two weeks ago Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte imposed a 30-kilometer per hour speed limit in Davao City’s streets to teach drivers a lesson with the recent spate of road kills. Days earlier, 10 people including a pregnant woman died in a jeepney accident. Duterte met with transport groups, imposed new speed limits and warned that violators will be pushed to the wall.
“You asked for it,” Duterte fumed.
Duterte thinks reducing the speed limits would force drivers to be more safety-conscious and reduce road deaths. So 30 kilometers per hour it is – whether driving during rush hour or past midnight when roads are deserted. Traffic policemen are positioned obviously or inconspicuously to monitor car speeds and arrest offenders. So far, locals have been complying as cars breeze down the city’s streets almost at the pace of a funeral cortege.
“On its first day of implementation though, a lot of people missed their flights,” Karen shared.
Davao residents had to adjust to the pace. Preparation for and travel to school, work or appointments must factor in extra travel time. The new speed limits drew mixed reactions from residents. While some find it “OA,” others welcome the measure.
“If that’s what it takes to prevent accidents, I am all for it,” said Dennis Carbon, a sales representative in Davao. “We need to give allowance for traveling. It’s a matter of discipline.”
Mindanao veteran journalist and colleague Art Bonjoc shares, “A speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour is ideal for Davao’s roads. It is even scientific, based on a study commissioned by the city”
The intervals and transitions between traffic light-guided intersections in Davao City are designed for speeds of 30 to 40 kilometers per hour only. Beyond this – traffic jams.
This is the thing about Davao – no matter how odd, or seemingly unreasonable a local ordinance may be (at first), everyone complies. The drive for discipline is apparent as residents see the merits of these ordinances or at least they comply even as they oppose.
Some drivers have silently protested the speed limits a day after its implementation. “Konti lang bumiyahe kaya walang masakyan yung mga tao,” said Davaoeño Facebook friend Bong O.
“It is also unfriendly to the environment. Driving at slower speeds consumes more fuel,” shared a friend from Davao who’s struggling between 3rd and 4th gear now as he is used to driving 5-speed.
Resistance to change is always expected. But local observers say residents will learn to accept the speed limits like they have accepted other ordinances.
Take the city’s smoking ban for example, which had peculiar provisions. Smoking is banned in all public places and enclosed areas. If a person smokes outside a building but still beneath an eave, roof, or under one of those coffee shop umbrellas, he may still be arrested. Smoking under “open skies” is legal. Establishments, particularly hotels have put up smoking areas and cabanas for guests who may be adjusting to a “No Smoking” city. Even flight attendants make the “No Smoking” warning a part of their arrival spiel to alert first timers that the city takes this policy seriously.
Davao also has a 2 a.m. curfew on clubs and waterholes. Serving liquor past curfew time may result in penalties. If a similar curfew is imposed in other cities, I’m sure businessmen would oppose with all their resources and connections. Davao club owners learned to live with the curfew as it reduced public disturbance and other incidents related to drunkenness. A curfew is the price for peaceful nights.
The firecracker ban during New Year’s Eve was also bitter ordinance to swallow. Filipinos and Chinese Filipinos alike are used to the firecracker tradition and it took years of violations, arrests and warnings for them to finally unlearn the habit and seek pleasure in non-explosive noise makers (caldero, torotot, KTV et al).
Now Davao City drivers are adjusting to the speed limit ordinance which will be passed at the city council soon. Probably, there will be collateral damage in terms of missed appointments and tardiness in schools or offices so people have to plan well and make little sacrifices for road safety.
Many motorists do not even realize that from break-neck speeds, slow crawls to standstill traffic, they might as well have traveled for 30 kilometers per hour continuously and safely.*
