OBLIQUE OBSERVATIONS
By Atty. Gilberto Lauengco, J.D.
The phrase “through the looking glass” is a term one might use to describe when one enters a situation or setting that is unfamiliar or abnormal, like being transported to a bizarre world similar but somehow different than our world. It was popularized by Lewis Carroll in his sequel to Alice in Wonderland.
For many motorists who travel along Commonwealth Avenue daily just like me, yesterday was a strange day and it made me remember that phrase. At first, I did not realize why traveling through the road felt different. The road and surroundings were the same but something weird was occurring. Then it dawned on me.
“Kamotes” of both the two- and four-wheeled varieties were suddenly gone. There were no vehicles darting in and out of their designated lanes with wild abandon. Everyone stayed in their lanes even if traffic was crawling. I could see motorcycle riders neatly lined up and staying in their designated lane. Illegal parking also became scarce on main roads. It actually felt like I had traveled to another parallel earth where “kamotes” did not exist and discipline was the norm.
Apparently, the reimplementation of the No-Contact Apprehension Policy or NCAP has had a chilling effect on many motorists. Motorcycle riders who normally drive with wild abandon were suddenly cowed into following rules. Advocates of the use of draconian measures to finally instill discipline in our drivers applauded this aspect of the NCAP measures in several online platforms. Clearly, several people have grown tired of the chaos in our streets and welcomed this particular result of the NCAP.
There were, of course, many who immediately criticized the NCAP. First, many in the motorcycle-riding community claimed it was discriminatory and cruel. They claimed that corralling motorcycle riders in designated lanes defeats the purpose of being motorcycle riders. They felt trapped and overly restrained. Many complained that it was inhumane as they were forced to slow down and suffer delay and the effects of the hot weather. In response, proponents of the NCAP point to these complaints as proof of the motorcycle riders’ innate refusal to be disciplined and adjust to the communal needs of society. As such, proponents are actually asking for stricter implementation and heftier fines.
Is the NCAP the answer to all our problems on the road? Many feel it is a step towards the right direction. There are legitimate concerns, however, which must be addressed. Signages must be in place. Traffic lights with timers are needed to allow motorists to adjust speed and avoid violating traffic rules. Vendors who block motorcycle lanes must be removed. Appeal systems for those with proper grievances and victims of erroneous charges. No system is ever perfect. There will always be the need for tweaks and improvements. At any rate, this new strange world where “kamotes” suddenly became an endangered species seems quite nice.
