A STUDY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE

APPREHENDED TRAFFIC LAW VIOLATOR

1. Introduction

The Transportation System is comprised of Man-Vehicle-Environment. The

systems approach presupposes that the M-V-E elements are integrated and
interrelated. They are important individually and as an integral in rendering
Transportation an effective “handmaiden” to economic development and an
efficient instrument for law and order.

While the upkeep, improvement and upgrade of transportation facilities are the
function of private investment, Government undertakes the construction and
repair of infrastructure as well as the function of regulation.

Today, it is in the ability of Government to maintain and improve regulation that it

will be made to account by the people to whom Government is answerable, as the
people’s agent to promote and safeguard the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of
happy-ness (to parrot the doctrine in American Constitutionalism).

The study is, then, a focus on whether regulation works or whether there may be
opportunities for improvement. In particular, the aim is to understand the
character of Man as a major actor in the system – as a user and as a subject of
regulation.

This is a study of the character of the driver, especially a driver that is apprehended
for violation of the traffic law.

1.1 Background of the Study

Land transportation regulation, in particular motor vehicle regulation, is assigned

to the Land Transportation Office. This includes driver regulation.

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To qualify to be issued a driver’s license, the applicant takes and passes the written
examination and practical or actual driving test. A driver’s license is considered a
badge that the driver is proficient and that the driver is informed of the many rules
and regulations to be a driver of good behavior.

Still, there is the problem that the Reader’s Digest often carries: “Every day, we
meet a bad driver.” In our own language, “daghan labad nga drayber sa dalan.”

The LTO’s regular actions are Traffic Law Enforcement (that includes Traffic Case
Adjudication) and Traffic Education. The other important aspects of Traffic
Management and Traffic Engineering are either shared with other government
agencies or performed primarily by the Local Government Unit (Traffic
Management).

In this study, it is aimed to understand the character of the apprehended driver,

come up with a profile or a common denominator, and thereby, enable the
regulator to propose measures to improve driver behavior.

The underlying consideration is that driver behavior is an important contributor to

both road safety and to order on the road, both policy considerations that are part
and parcel of the LTO’s vision and mission.

1.2 Theoretical framework.

This study attempts to understand the character of the apprehended driver that
may provide a guide on the areas or aspects by which driver behavior may be
conducive to improvement.

A profile of the apprehended driver will enable the policy maker to modify the
regulations or introduce ideas in order to reform driving behavior. There may be
a need for improvements in the systems and procedures in driver licensing. There
may be a need for more intervention such as traffic education or organization of
drivers and other similar actions.

In the case of persons whose driving is their means of employment, the question
is: Is their employment gainful and satisfactory to them and to their dependents?

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Or their violation of the traffic law a way to increase their income that was
prevented by their being apprehended, resulting in a losing proposition.

The conclusion of the study will provide a clear understanding of the apprehended
driver and how he can be helped to avoid being a violator of the law.

1.3 Conceptual framework.

It is expected to come up with a profile of the apprehended driver with the

following characteristics:
(1) Personal –
Gender (although expectedly, the majority will be Male)
Physical features of height, weight (as gleaned from the driver’s license
Age
(2) Driver’s License –
Type, Conditions, Restrictions
(3) Educational attainment
(4) Employment status, income (average in a day)
(5) Employment status of spouse and other family members
(6) Home ownership or amount of monthly rental
(7) Family expenses – Food, water, electricity, others
(8) Place of residence

Several of the characteristics may be obtained as data from a survey

questionnaire.

The profile will be cross-related with information on the following factors:

(1) Year and venue (LTO) of acquisition of driver’s license
(2) Motor vehicle ownership details
(3) Motor vehicle information details (type, denomination, classification, etc.)
(4) Apprehension details (place, time, road condition, violation)

1.4 Paradigm

The theory of the study is that the fact that the driver is a violator of the
traffic law may be correlated to certain characteristics or not. By a regression

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analysis, the driver’s profile may have some relationship with certain factors such
as their acquisition of the driver’s license, the motor vehicle owner, the motor
vehicle, and the environment (place, time) and the nature or gravity of the
violation.

1,5 Statement of the Problem

There is a need to have a definite average profile of a driver and correlate the
profile to certain factors that may explain why the driver is prone to be a violator
of the traffic law.

The understanding of the driver profile may provide the policy maker with
measuresto improve driver behavior.

An improved driver behavior prevents violations and contributes to road safety.

1.6 Hypothesis

It is to be determined if a driver profile will explain wrongful driver behavior. The

correlation analysis may or may not answer the question

1.7 Significance of the study.

The study will provide the policy maker opportunities to make improvements in
promoting good driving behavior.

1.8 Scope and limitation of the study.

The data are derived from records of the LTO LETAS (Law Enforcement and Traffic
Adjudication System) for the select years of 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Sampling method is random.

1.9 Definition of terms

(From the existing laws)

a. Driver
b. Student driver

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c. Driver’s license
d. Student driver permit
e. Motor vehicle
f. Motor vehicle registration
g. Operator/owner
h. Public highway
i. Classification
(1) Private
(2) For Hire
(3) Government
(4) Diplomatic/Exempt

List of violations of the Traffic Law (By class)

a.