One of the best things to come out of the pandemic in terms of traffic solutions was the EDSA Busway Carousel. It was a great idea on paper: a single-lane road in EDSA that only allowed public transport to use it, which meant faster travel times for commuters. But since Pinoys can’t really leave good things alone, cars and motorcycles that are not authorized to travel on the said lane have been using it as a way to circumvent heavy EDSA traffic, with disastrous results. It fills us with joy then to find out that the InterAgency Council for Traffic (I-ACT) is finally doing something about this, and has started Apprehending EDSA Busway Carousel violators.
In a series of photos posted by the Philippine News Agency, it looks like the I-ACT is cracking down on EDSA Busway Carousel violators by ticketing each and every unauthorized vehicle that entered the stretch of the road on the Pasay city stretch. Yes, that includes both 4- and 2-wheeled vehicles.
What happens when you get caught in the Busway Carousel and you’re not a) an authorized bus and b) a government vehicle? Well, you get fined Php 1,000, and incur 10 points against your license. If you incur 40 generic points, your license is suspended.
Policing the EDSA Busway Carousel has been a major headache for the I-ACT ever since the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) was issued a TRO by the Supreme Court. There are not enough enforcers to cover the entire 23.8 km stretch of EDSA, not without the help of CCTVs. With thousands of pasaway drivers (both on 4- and 2-wheeled vehicles) traversing the EDSA Busway Carousel every day, it’s an uphill battle to implement the rules to keep everyone safe.