Driver's Dilemma

[1D4LV]

Sent to me via e-mail. You guys out there might be interested.

-HG-




Drivers' Dilemma (1/2)
–or- Why driving is Hell
Patrick Salamat
11 October 2003

One of my favorite columnists, Thads Bentulan, wrote about
his theory to improve the Metro Manila traffic scheme. He is popular
for these systemic scrutinies of common things. His analysis makes
sense; it boils down to how people behave in the intersection and
the delays that this causes. Although still to be concluded, part of
his recommendation involves arresting people who insist on gunning
their car and blocking the intersection, arresting people who
counter flow, and giving buses a 30-second period to pick up
passengers at designated bus stops.

While all that is fine, the question still remains: who
will arrest these violators and why would they do so? His solution
is not a stroke of genius; any one who stops to think about it
(probably while stuck in traffic) will come up with something
simila r. The genius will be in the implementation.

One would think that a strict execution of the rules (i.e.
scores of enforcers, huge fines, information campaign, etc.) is the
key. From Bayani Fernando to Rodrigo Duterte, the people seem to
favor an iron hand in dealing traffic rules. While it may work
(check out Ayala Avenue on weekdays) the problem is when the
enforcers leave or take a break or become too lax. Rigorousness is
one thing, but a constant regime of strict law enforcement is not
sustainable given our people power mentality. One need only observe
the Mendiola-Legarda intersection to verify this.

Every morning, hundreds of students from the five schools in
Mendiola cross this intersection to get to their classes. Regardless
how many traffic enforcers there are, they would never be enough to
catch all the jaywalkers. And regardless how many cars there are,
the sheer number of people crossing would make it dangerous for the
cars to force their way through (unless you don't mind running over
people).

It's the EDSA thing. If we can stop tanks and armed
soldiers, what are a few cars to a dozen or more pedestrians who are
late for class?

So the solution can't lie in strict enforcement. I believe
the goal should be everyone understanding the need for a system and
acknowledging that following the system will get you there faster
and more conveniently than engaging in a free-for-all.

Anyone who's been stuck in an intersection knows how this
works. Picture a gridlock where the cars are stuck together like the
interlocking flaps of a storage box. The drivers know that the only
way out of this is for someone to back up. In cases like this,
the "barangay tanods" or some "tambays" usually step up to direct
traffic.

What's frustrating is the reluctance of some drivers to make
the first move. It's as if backing up would mean that you've
been "naisahan." This attitude probably caused the gridlock in the
first place with drivers gunning for the intersection at the same
time instead of following what was (supposed to be) taught in
driving school: that the guy to the left has the right of way.

What's more frustrating is the seeming lack of any learning
curve. Any intelligent person who's been stuck in a similar gridlock
would conclude that the best way to prevent this sort of thing
happening would be to follow the right-of-way rule. Same goes for
anyone who's been caught in a situation where the light is green but
your lane can't move because there is sti ll a spillover from the
perpendicular lane. (Pedro Gil corner Quirino is notorious for this)

The problem is not with the traffic rules nor is it with
their enforcement (although we could use some improvement there),
the problem is one of trust. Pinoy drivers do not trust (a) each
other and (b) the system that most of them probably barely
understand.

[To be continued]

Drivers' Dilemma (2/2)
–or- Why driving is Hell
Patrick Salamat
11 October 2003


The "prisoner's dilemma" is a scenario where competitors are
supposed to outguess each other. It has been used to analyze lots of
things, from tactical nuclear launches to initial pricing schemes.

Two criminals are placed in separate cells with the
following offer: confess or remain silent. If you confess and your
accomplice remains silent, you go free and the other does hard time.
If he confesses and you are silent, he goes free and you go to jail.
If you both confess, you'll both be convicted but we'll go easy on
you. If you both remain silent, there is no case and we'll have to
let you go.

The dilemma is in guessing what the other is thinking. The
safe way would be to think of yourself, confess, and do the easy
time. Risking silence, of course, would mean either a great reward
or a big punishment.

Apply this to our intersection scenario and you have the
problem right there. People choose to confess and suffer a little
inconvenience rather than keep silent and risk the great reward.

The prisoner's / driver's dilemma illustrates a conflict
between individual and group rationality. Thinking of one's self
alone would l ead a prisoner/driver to the confess/go alternative
which, depending on the other's choice would result in some benefit.
This, of course, precludes the optimum result, which would only
result if they (prisoners or drivers) thought as a group.

That's where the system comes in. Unlike the prisoners who
probably didn't know what the cops had in store for them, we do know
what intersections have in store for us. We also have gone through
this scenario several times during driving. One can just imagine an
experienced thief telling his accomplice to "never confess no matter
what the cops tell you."

The experienced Metro Manila driver though, does the
opposite. Jeepney, taxi, and truck drivers gun their vehicles into
crowded intersections all the time without considering the benefits
of stopping and letting the other cars pass. < BR>
Our drivers' problem may be interpreted in many ways. I
choose to see it as a basic distrust in any system. The traffic
system which tells you to keep intersections clear and prescribes a
right-of-way was designed to eliminate gridlock given a reasonable
amount of traffic. The Metro Manila driver just sees it as another
form of oppression.

The traffic cops and MMDA enforcers don't help at all; they,
too, do not understand the system. So instead of a scheme where the
overall goal is smooth flowing traffic, driving in Metro Manila has
turned into a battlefield where traffic enforcers and other drivers
are the enemy.

This reminds me of the story where the afterlife is depicted
as a giant mess hall with everyone eating soup with long spoons
attached to their arms. Hell is, well, hellish, because its
inhabita nts can't feed themselves. (Imagine getting a two-foot spoon
into your mouth). Heaven is set up the same way but the people there
are happy because they're feeding each other.

Now think about that and the intersections and you'll know
understand why driving here is hell.

------
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[NightRock]

Ang bilis naman nito dito.. kanina lang nasa INBOX ko to hehehehe...

Sumakit mata ko sa kakabasa nito.

[krscla]

True! :D

[kiper]

daming pinoy drivers hindi alam ang ibig sabihin ng mga linya sa daan.

-yellow lane, pedestrian lane, yellow box etc..haay..

pati right of way, first to stop-first to go rule, pati nga ibig sabihin ng traffic lights di alam kung pano sundin.

hindi ko nga maintindihan kuna pano nakakakuha ng PROFESSIONAL LICENSE ang ating minamahal na mga jeepney, bus, tricycle, taxi, fx and truck drivers..

karding, diba sa states pahirapan kumuha ng lisensya? i mean ung sa exam atbp?

[7391N]

Tsk tsk... Disiplina talaga ang kelangan sa atin. Kelangan ng mga mala-Lee Kuan Yew na leader ng bansa natin para matutong sumunod sa batas ang mga mamamayan.

[mikline]

add to that yung dapat na alternate yung cars pag merging into one lane, dami di nakakaintindi nito...alam na kakadaan lang ng nasa unahan gusto sya agad sumunod imbes na yung sa kabilang lane naman... alang bigayan

[conzky]

Tsk tsk... Disiplina talaga ang kelangan sa atin. Kelangan ng mga mala-Lee Kuan Yew na leader ng bansa natin para matutong sumunod sa batas ang mga mamamayan.

I totally agree! This is the kind of leader that we really need.

[mbeige]

How sad, to think that article is already 3 years old and yet ganito pa rin tayo.

That's the truth right there. Even if people follow the rules, there will still be more drivers who won't. And that's slowing everybody down.

[gearspeed]

Sa states pahirapan kumuha ng lisensya.Nung nasa U.S ako kuwento nung pinsan ko dun nagkamali lang siya ng isa bagsak na kaagad.Hindi lang siya lumingon nun.

[Jun aka Pekto]

Sa states pahirapan kumuha ng lisensya.Nung nasa U.S ako kuwento nung pinsan ko dun nagkamali lang siya ng isa bagsak na kaagad.Hindi lang siya lumingon nun.

I guess it depends on which state. I took mine in Nevada. I aced the written test and got my driver's permit. Then, my uncle took 20 minutes to re-acquaint me with the M/T of my 86 Nissan Pulsar. Then, he let me drive on my own even though it was technically illegal because I'm supposed to be supervised by a licensed driver. I practiced for 3 days and just followed the rules.

When I took the driver's test, all they got me for was driving over a solid line as I moved to a turning lane. But, I got all my looking around part ok. I just pretended I was a fighter pilot checking my six. So, my "looking around" moves were really exaggerated.

My wife failed her first driver's test also with the looking around part. But, she went to a (Arizona) state-sponsored driving school and passed. Now she has an Arizona driver's license which is good for 35 years. Imagine that, not having to get a new license for 35 years..... I still have a Nevada driver's license which is good for only 4 years.