HELP! Got Ticketed in SCTEX

[tiquico]

Yesterday, I was cruising SCTEX going to Subic when I made a wrong turn and headed to Clark tollgate. Realizing my mistake, I turned back (still traversing the "entrance" way) and drove to where I should be. I made sure I had my HAZARDS on so that incoming vehicles going to Clark tollgate would be alerted. As I made my way back to the main road, that's when an LTO apprehending officer flagged me. He told me I shouldn't have driven back against the traffic and should have proceeded to the Clark tollgate and just exited in the road ahead. I told the officer that it was my first time going to Subic and when I made a wrong turn, instinct told me to drive back. He ticketed me with a COUNTERFLOW violation. He said it's the highest form of traffic violation. Sensing that he won't budged from my pleadings, I accepted it.

After I arrived home, I checked the penalties in the LTO website. I can't seem to find COUNTERFLOW violation. The nearest violation I could find would be DRIVING AGAINST TRAFFIC under RECKLESS DRIVING. That's P1k. I've read from other sites that an ILLEGAL COUNTERFLOW violation is P2k plus DL suspension. Can I still contest my violation? Because strictly speaking, I think I didn't make an illegal counterflow.

Thanks in advance.

[p_borj]

sir nag-u-turn ka ba? sana inatras mo nalang paunti-unti yung daan hehe.

anyway, counterflow nga po talaga ang tawag doon.

[_Qwerty_]

yup nasa same lane ka.. bumalik ka.. eh di counter flow nga yun.. pano kung may mabilis na paparating.. pasalamat na lang kayo sir walang accident na nangyari.. next time.. exit the proper way..

[tiquico]

sir nag-u-turn ka ba? sana inatras mo nalang paunti-unti yung daan hehe.

anyway, counterflow nga po talaga ang tawag doon.

Yup. Nag-U-turn ako. The apprehending officer told me that I should have just backed the car and he would have let me go. But I was thinking that it would be more dangerous driving on reverse so I made a U-turn. (Sigh)

[scharnhorst]

Yup. Nag-U-turn ako. The apprehending officer told me that I should have just backed the car and he would have let me go. But I was thinking that it would be more dangerous driving on reverse so I made a U-turn. (Sigh)

counterflow nga talaga. you should have exited and gotten back the SCTEX from clark. Halos same price lang sana yon.

And reversing? nako. that's just as dangerous.

imagine if somebody traveling at least 60 kph smacks your car?

charge to experience nalang

[Type 100]

Yup. Nag-U-turn ako. The apprehending officer told me that I should have just backed the car and he would have let me go. But I was thinking that it would be more dangerous driving on reverse so I made a U-turn. (Sigh)

The prudent thing to do would be to just make a U-turn at the next exit, in this case Clark. Every other course of action involving moving the car is just an accident waiting to happen - whether it be counterflowing or backing up. That's physics.

At least you lived to tell the tale and learn from the mistake. Take care next time.

[niky]

The correct term is going the wrong way down a one way street... which is what a highway is.

This is one of THE most IRRITATING habits of some pinoy drivers... backing up or counterflowing on a one way highway.

What do you think happens when your car, going at 20 km/h in the wrong directing, meets another car going 60-80 km/h in the proper direction? You die. Period. The slower moving car absorbs more of the kinetic energy of the crash and that's all she wrote.

Do like the rest of us do when we miss our exit or turn. Drive down to the next exit and turn around. Short of a medical emergency, there's no reason to drive the wrong way down the road... especially a highway like the SCTEX, where oncoming traffic can be moving at up to 100-120 km/h.

[agentk98]

Dude, that was a little dangerous. Actually, that was a lot dangerous. Someone might have been exiting that same road... no amount of hazard lights can stop a car running at highway speeds. Hopefully you make this a learning experience. You are endangering your safety... and worse, other motorists.

Here's a recent article to read. Highlight on Story 2:
http://www.topgear.com.ph/features/f...he-philippines

[jerjer&qtqt]

yup, very very dangerous indeed. ako kapag lumampas lalo na hindi ko kabisado yung lugar, deretso lang ako at hanap ng tamang u-turn slot. presence of mind lagi lalo na sa fast moving highways. nangyari yan sa akin papasok ako ng exit ng sctex biglang may umaatras na mabagal. buwiset dahil kailangan ko magpreno ng mabilisan.

[ericp]

Dangerously bad move! Definitely!

[moejun2]

sorry sir, but what were you thinking? do you know how many lives you endangered?

[coldwood]

Dude, last year I also got a violation ticket regarding counterflow. My penalty is I cant drive for 3 months and 2000 fine.. But, if you dont want to have a 3 month penalty, you might need to attend a seminar that they will recommend.

[cocoy]

simple defensive driving was forgotten, could have led to a very sad conclusion..not knowing the way or the roads is not an excuse..

[4JGtootsie]

Take the consequences of your action.
Never ever say to traffic enforcer that you didnt know kasi seminar lagi katumbas niyan.

[Idoy]

Good thing walang papasok na sasakyan. And to answer your question, counterflowing nga yan. 2k yata ang penalty.

Don't do it again.
Charge it to experience.

[lonerunner]

oo delikado nga umatras o mag counter flow... minsan pag wla masyado traffic ang instinct ng pinoy drivers ay i-counter khit mali o delikado.

i agree charge to experience n lang and ang importante wlang na-aksidente!

peace!

[bok_yo]

suicidal act... extremely dangerous especially on expressway.

you deserved to be apprehended and penalized...

[Quint]

He let you off easy. These kinds of moves deserve a stiff penalty or a suspension. This is one of the things that should not be done on highways. No backing up, no counter flowing. Next time, take the next exit.

Always think if its safe or not, even if you think its not a violation.

[kinyo]

Because strictly speaking, I think I didn't make an illegal counterflow.

now its clear why ts did what he did ... totally unaware of the danger

[jmpet626]

Naalala ko dati along slex yung taxi na miss nya yung cordon barrier ng Bicutan Exit mga 20 meters yung lampas nya and kapal ng mukha umatras ba naman, buti walang naaksidente