Most Commonly Ignored Road Signs and Why It Shouldn’t Have Remained Ignored

Road signs exist to maintain regulation and provide information to motorists. They also aid in keeping motorists and pedestrians safe in the road. Road signs in the Philippines can be categorized into three: (1) regulatory road signs (2) warning road signs, and (3) information road signs. 

Regulatory road signs simply indicate what the drivers can or cannot do in a certain road. They basically show the traffic law that must be followed. Furthermore, warning signs inform motorists of potentially dangerous road or traffic conditions in the path they are about to take. Lastly, information road signs provide motorists information on where to find service areas, hospitals, parking, and lay-bys. It also shows the remaining distance to the next city or town.

More often than not, these road signs are being neglected. In the study done by the Philippine National Police (PNP), most Filipino drivers don't adhere to different road signs because they are not easily seen while some drivers just ignore the signs on purpose.

Among the most neglected road signs include the “No Parking”, “No Stopping Anytime”, and “No Loading, Unloading”. The “Stop” and the “Yield” signs also made it to the list of the most ignored road signs. The “Stop” sign is designed to remind each driver to stop at the designated stop line and make sure the road is clear of vehicles and pedestrians before proceeding.

The “Yield” sign, on the other hand, indicates that merging drivers must come to stop to let other drivers go first. The driver who stopped or slowed down to allow another vehicle to pass has yielded the right of way to that vehicle.

No parking sign being ignored by the driver of the vehicle

It’s not just the motorists who often neglect the road signs. Pedestrians as well are also fond of not following certain road signs. Some of the signs they often ignore are “Cross Only at Ped Xing”, “Use Overpass to Cross”, and “No Crossing”

Use Ped Xing Sign being ignored by a pedestrian 

Aside from the fact that drivers and pedestrians alike often ignore the road signs, the authorities have little or no enthusiasm in properly enforcing them. As a result, Filipino drivers have no discipline when it comes to following traffic rules, particularly road signs. Consequently, a considerable number of Filipino drivers did not undergo proper training to have enough knowledge regarding the different road signs. It is not a secret that having a driver’s license in the Philippines can be done without the applicant having to go through the entire process. This can be done by hiring fixers.

By engaging through this practice, road signs will continue to be neglected by motorists who do not even understand what it means. Its function to warn motorists against probable danger will just come to waste.

As stated by the World Health Organization (WHO), there are an estimated 1.24 million people who die annually because of road traffic accidents. WHO also claimed that the leading cause of death among young people, aged 15 to 19 years old, is road traffic injuries. If this thing is kept neglected, the rate of road traffic accidents will reach around 1.9 million by 2020.

Road signs exist to help motorists and pedestrians to have a safe and regulated movement of traffic by giving warning signs, direction, and instructions. All individuals should be educated on these road signs in order to be safe and to be responsible motorists and pedestrians.