Is it possible to have zero traffic deaths in a year?
Is it possible to have zero traffic deaths in a year? Is it even probable? As it turns out, yes. Here’s an article on what Helsinki did in order to make this a reality:
Andrei, M. (August 1, 2025) “Helsinki went a full year without a traffic death. How did they do it?” ZME Science, https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/helsinki-went-a-full-year-without-a-traffic-death-how-did-they-do-it/ [Last accessed: 8/19/2025]
To quote from the article:
“A lot of factors contributed to this, but speed limits are one of the most important,” said Roni Utriainen, a traffic engineer with the city’s Urban Environment Division.
More than half of Helsinki’s streets have a speed limit of 30 km/h (approximately 20 mph). Half a century ago, the city barely had half of its area with a 50 km/h limit (30 mph). They gradually worked to reduce the speed limit, especially around schools and kindergartens.
Smarter street design also played a key role. Pedestrian and cycling infrastructure was prioritized for upgrades in recent years. More and more people started using public transit or bikes, or just walking. Substantial investments also made public transit more efficient and reliable.“Public transport in Helsinki is excellent, which reduces car use, and with it, the number of serious accidents,” Utriainen noted.
Another key component was bringing the police on board. Helsinki introduced automated traffic cameras and enforcement systems, which also helped bring down reckless driving.”
Examples of congestion pricing as applied in major cities
Here is a quick share of an article on cities that have been successful with congestion pricing:
Zukowski, D. (August 8, 2025) “5 cities with congestion pricing,” Smart Cities Dive, https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/5-cities-with-congestion-pricing/756987/ [Last accessed: 8/15/2025]
Quoting from the article:
“As cities around the world continue to see increased traffic delays, some have implemented congestion pricing programs to ease gridlock. Congestion pricing acts as a market-based mechanism: increasing the cost to drive in certain areas may encourage drivers to take alternate means of transport or travel at different times. Toll revenues can go to improving roadways and public transit or reducing other vehicle-related taxes.”
Indeed congestion pricing has been around and yet few cities have actually implemented congestion pricing schemes and have had success with it. In the Philippines, the discussions are basically on and off or intermittent. I recall there were already mention of congestion pricing in Metro Manila transport studies back in the 1970s but nothing really came out of those. Fast forward to the present and Baguio City in the northern Philippines implemented their version of number coding, which was supposedly a prelude to some form of congestion pricing but apparently is more of a travel demand management (TDM) scheme along the lines of Metro Manila’s UVVRP. Will we have our own proof of concept sometime soon even for a smaller area or district in any Philippine city? That will also be dependent on whether our so-called leaders can engage their constituents in meaningful discussions on the benefits of congestion pricing.
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On posting the correct information on buses
I took this video on the way home via Ortigas Avenue Extension. The destination of the bus showed it is en route to the Guangzhuo Train Station. Apparently this not just for this bus but for others like it (same model).
While this is basically a minor or trivial thing, bus companies should still be providing the correct information on their buses. This is part of the service they provide to commuters.
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Aerial photo of the MRT7 depot?
I took this photo of what appears to be the MRT7 depot near or adjacent to the La Mesa reservoir. It was as quick a photo as our plane was banking into the clouds.
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An aerial view of the PNR’s rail revival
I would just like to share a few photos I took while our plane was turning towards our Bicol destination upon take off from NAIA.
I will again pose the following questions to my readers: will the NSCR become the game changer it’s supposed to be for both long distance travel and commuting (super commuting for some cases)? Will it decongest McArthur Highway and NLEX? Will there be a significant shift from car use to rail? Or will those taking road-based public transport be the ones mainly shifting to rail?
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Is there really a shortage of public transportation in Metro Manila? – Part 1 – Introduction
I will be doing a series of articles here on public transportation. More specifically, I will try to answer the question in the main title of the series – Is there really a shortage of public transportation in Metro Manila?
The quick answer probably is “yes” but we need to examine this concern from different perspectives and reasons so we can be objective about the “why” part of the shortage. Shortage may mean a real lack in terms of the number of public utility vehicles (PUVs) with approved franchises or perhaps the number actually operating on any given day. These two are actually different because it is possible to have fewer PUVs operating compared to the approved number or to have more PUVs operating than the approved number. The latter means there are “colorum” or illegal operations (i.e., vehicles providing public transport services without franchises).
Among the reasons why there is a perceived shortage of public transportation are as follows:
- Fewer than the number of franchises approved are operating.
- PUVs are not able to make a reasonable turnaround (e.g., due to traffic congestion).
- PUV drivers and operators refusing to operate their vehicles.
- Other factors.
- Any combination of the above including “all of the above.”
I hope I can write about these in a manner that can be easily understood – in layman’s terms.
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Complex intersections in Davao City
My first project upon my return from Japan in 1999 was the Davao City Transportation and Traffic Management Plan Study. We found a few interesting intersections there. These included junctions with more than 4 legs. If all or most movements were allowed at these intersections, they would be most complicated and risky due to the number of conflicts. Of course, not all movements are allowed and many legs are one-way meaning there are fewer conflicts and less risky.
These intersections are large and while there are traffic signals, they were off when I was there.
Surprisingly, there was no congestion or near crashes. Either, traffic was light at the time (before 7AM) or motorists were driving at a level similar to Vietnam (where vehicles were like ants as they moved at intersections).
A bit of trivia here – 1999 to 2002 was the only period in a long time when a Duterte was not mayor of the city. This was the time the former president relinquished the mayoralty in favor of his Vice Mayor and was instead congressman representing the city. He immediately returned after one term rather than serve out 3 terms.
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Shoes for the wet season
I wrote about how a pair of shoes didn’t last long particularly for my daily walking. This time, I’m featuring a pair from a brand that I’ve been patronizing for more than 2 decades now – Merrell.
Their shoes have been very dependable and I’ve had 5 pairs over the more than 2 decades I’ve used them. That’s about 4 years per pair even considering my shoe rotation (I also have other shoes, of course. ) I would say that they’re better than the Adidas Terrex shoes I’ve had and perhaps at par with the GT Hawkins I had when I was a student in Japan. I hope the quality is maintained for these durable shoes that is my preferred pair for the wet season.
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Pothole season
The heavy rains the past days have taken a toll on many roads. Special mention here would be city roads such as main arterials where traffic flow is affected by the pavement conditions. Here are a couple of photos of potholes along Katipunan Avenue.
The photos also reveal that cement concrete slabs are actually under the asphalt concrete. This means asphalt concrete was used more as an overlay to protect the cement concrete slab rather than as the main structural component that will carry the traffic loads. The pavement slabs may not necessarily be compromised but the hammering action of tires/wheels as they hit the potholes will definitely lead to more damage. The water, of course, is worrisome because once they seep or penetrate the cracks and interfaces between the slabs, they may compromise the layers beneath the slab. This will weaken the foundation of the pavement and lead to more critical damage. The challenge is how to repair these potholes when we are still experiencing heavy rains. Now that’s something the DPWH needs to figure out, learn and apply rather than the usual patch up work that results in mounds of asphalt replacing the potholes.
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Cashless payment methods for public transportation
It took some time but finally there are even more options to pay for your transit fare, at least for MRT Line 3 for now. Here is the graphic from the announcement by the DOTr:
Hopefully, these methods will be available to all rail lines including the PNR. Hopefully, too, these options will be available in buses and perhaps at least on modern jitneys. This will make it easier to pay public transport fares for the regular transit users.
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Caught (up) in traffic 