Beyond the frequent musings about the state of traffic in Bacolod City, there is also the issue of pedestrian etiquette and the apparent fearlessness of local pedestrians. In other countries, there are customs that followed, including crossing at crosswalks, waiting for pedestrians signals, and looking both ways before the crossing the street. Instead, along any road within the city, the only rule seems to be making sure to put a hand out. There is also no sense of urgency when crossing, with more and more locals staring down at their phones as their crawl across the streets.
There comes a point when it must be asked, is it bravery or foolishness?
When reports come out of pedestrian fatalities, given the way many choose to cross the street, one has to question who is at fault. With so many willing to jaywalk, walk between cars, and stroll into oncoming traffic, it’s hard to immediately pin the blame on the driver. When one is behind the wheel of a car, going down a highway – road is clear, green light is illuminated – there is no expectation of anybody crossing the street; however, it does not give the driver permission not to be aware.
Browsing through rules set out by the Department for Transport in the United Kingdom, the Department of Transport and Main Roads in Australia, and the Ministry of Transportation for the province of Ontario in Canada, they each carry out a similar set of rules when it comes to crossing the street safely.
In the UK, there are over 30 sets of rules for pedestrians in order to ensure their safety. One of their primary rules states: “Find a safe place to cross and where there is space to reach the pavement on the other side. Where there is a crossing nearby, use it.” Both agencies from Australia and Canada suggest the same, use crosswalks.
One of the biggest obstacles in driving in Bacolod City are jaywalkers who step out into the road without regard; many times they are disembarking a jeepney and cross without even looking up.
Growing up and going to school in the United States, students are taught at a very early age to look both ways before crossing the street – not only a basic lesson, but common sense as well.

According to the English rules, they state: “Do not cross until there is a safe gap in the traffic and you are certain that there is plenty of time. Remember, even if traffic is a long way off, it may be approaching very quickly.” For Canada, it’s “cross when the traffic has come to a complete stop;” and in the Australian guide, it says the exact same thing, “Cross when traffic has come to a complete stop.”
Is it really too complicated to comprehend? In essence, crossing without looking or merely expecting every car to immediately stop is risking life and limb. Is it really worth it? Does it damage one’s pride if they choose not to play chicken when an oncoming vehicle? Personally, would much rather have a damaged ego than an injury or disability to any physical part of the body.
When it comes to traffic lights, the Australian guide notes, “Wait for the lights to change – do not cross if there is a stationary red figure;” while the Canadian guide is bit more blunt, “Never cross on a red light.” The British agency echoes the same sentiment, saying, “Only start to cross the road when the green figure shows.” In terms of junctions that lack traffic lights, the rules in the UK explain, “If no pedestrian signals have been provided, watch carefully and do not cross until the traffic lights are red and the traffic has stopped.”
There is also a strange aversion many have to sidewalks. One of the oddities noticed, despite the number of individuals fearful of tanning from being under the sun, many choose to still walk in the street rather than along a tree-lined sidewalk – still not sure why many are so against the use of sidewalks – and, most times, seem completely surprised at the sight of a car using the road.
In the Australian guide, they point out the basic safety precautions with using sidewalks.
“Always walk on footpaths or nature strips where possible,” the guide notes. “If there is no footpath or nature strip, walk so that you are facing oncoming traffic.”
The UK guide says the same thing.
Perhaps the driver in a case surrounding a pedestrian fatality was inebriated or was speeding, but there are also a multitude of cases that go unknown because the casualty may have just been careless or distracted or had the wrong expectations of drivers, ending in something that could have been avoided if they used basic common sense.
Walking into traffic with one arm held out, looking like a sad impersonation of Iron Man, is not a safety technique – it’s stupid. Nothing is lost in waiting the few seconds for the traffic lights to read “Go” or for a gap in the traffic. Nobody is every looked down upon because they wanted to be safe and were unwilling to risk their life. Who does look foolish, however, is trying to race a car across the street. /WDJ