By Mae Singuay

Following reports of numerous road accidents involving motorists and pedestrians in Bacolod City, the Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution asking the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) to strictly enforce the anti-jaywalking ordinance.

Councilor Claudio Jesus Puentevella said, upon their observation, most pedestrians are violating the anti-jaywalking ordinance as some were not using designated pedestrian lanes for several months.

He added the strict enforcement of the ordinance may prevent any untoward road accidents and protect both the pedestrians and motorists.

It will deter the general public from jaywalking, the councilor added.

City Ordinance No. 338 defines jaywalking as an act of crossing the street outside marked crosswalks, pedestrian crossing or underneath an overpass, and in the absence of such mark.

“It also defines as crossing the street or highway, except at the corner of the intersection,”  the ordinance said.

“Crossing the street or highway even within the marked crosswalk or pedestrian crossing without conforming with the traffic enforcer’s hand signals at the intersection or contrary to the signal,” it said.

Jaywalking is also defined as walking outside the sidewalk to inconvenience, obstruct, hinder or prevent free passage of vehicles; and at the center island as to obstruct, hinder or prevent free passage of vehicles, it added./MS, WDJ