Will traffic lights solve Tabuk City’s road accident problem?

FEATURE

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Traffic lights may soon become a familiar sight at major intersections in Tabuk City, but as the city considers installing them at 10 priority locations, a bigger question remains: Will stopping vehicles at red lights be enough to stop the growing number of road accidents?

The proposal was discussed during the October 21, 2026 meeting of the Technical Working Group of the Traffic Management Council (TWG-TMC), as part of the initial development of a comprehensive Traffic Management Plan for the city.

The proposed locations include major intersections, areas near schools, and road sections frequently affected by traffic congestion.

The Public Order and Safety Office presented vehicle-counting data gathered over seven days, from August 13 to 19, 2026, showing the volume of traffic passing through four major intersections.

The Bulanao roundabout recorded 174,215 vehicles, while the White Carabao intersection registered 132,544. The San Juan-Bulanao intersection recorded 57,343 vehicles, and the Quezon Street-Provincial Road junction in Barangay Dagupan Centro had 87,874.

These figures underscore the heavy movement of vehicles along the city's major roads. But while traffic lights may help regulate this movement, the city's road accident figures suggest that congestion is only part of a much bigger road safety problem.

A troubling number of crashes

Tabuk City's 2026 accident reports point to motorcycles as the vehicles most frequently involved in road crashes, with unlicensed and young riders among the recurring concerns.

During the first quarter, the city recorded 17 crashes, most involving motorcycles and self-accidents. Sixteen of those involved reportedly had no driver's license, while victims ranged in age from 13 to 68. Most incidents occurred in barangays along the provincial road.

In May, all 13 recorded crashes involved motorcycles, with most occurring in Bulanao. Nine victims were unlicensed drivers.

The city recorded seven motorcycle-related crashes each in August and September. All seven victims in August reportedly had no driver's license, while five of the seven victims in September were unlicensed. Incidents were reported in Magsaysay, Casigayan, and barangays along the provincial road.

The Bureau of Fire Protection's third-quarter report further identified Bulanao as a major accident hotspot. Of the 118 accident responses within the Tabuk City Fire Station's coverage area, 98 were handled by the Bulanao Fire Sub-Station, including 63 incidents in Bulanao Centro and Bulanao Norte.

The figures highlight the recurring involvement of motorcycles, unlicensed riders, and accidents in Bulanao and along major roads—suggesting that the city's road safety problem goes beyond traffic congestion and requires stronger enforcement and driver education.

The problem goes beyond traffic congestion

The city's accident reports identify several contributing factors, including drunk driving, distracted driving, overspeeding, improper turning, and inattentive driving.

Poor road conditions and stray animals were also cited as contributing factors in some incidents.

These circumstances raise an important question about the effectiveness of traffic lights in preventing crashes.

A traffic signal can tell motorists when to stop, proceed, or yield. It can organize the movement of vehicles at busy intersections and reduce conflicts between motorists approaching from different directions.

But it cannot prevent a drunk driver from speeding, an unlicensed minor from operating a motorcycle, or a rider from driving without a helmet. Neither can it automatically correct dangerous overtaking, distracted driving, or poor road conditions.

In other words, traffic lights may address some intersection-related risks, but they cannot solve every cause of road accidents.

Beyond traffic lights: A comprehensive road safety plan

For Tabuk City, the proposed installation of traffic lights could be a significant step toward improving traffic management, particularly at intersections with high vehicle volumes.

However, the city's own accident data suggest that traffic regulation must go hand in hand with stronger enforcement and road safety education.

The TWG-TMC has also recommended reviewing the existing Traffic Code to determine what provisions need to be updated to address current traffic conditions.

The proposed comprehensive plan also covers parking management, speed regulation, and the installation of traffic control devices.

These measures could be strengthened through stricter enforcement against underage and unlicensed motorcycle riders, drunk driving, overspeeding, and failure to wear helmets.

Improved pedestrian crossings, visible road signs, proper street lighting, and safer road designs near schools could also help protect vulnerable road users.

The city may likewise consider identifying the specific locations and circumstances of recurring crashes before deciding which intersections should receive traffic signals. Accident records should be compared with traffic volume and road conditions to determine whether the problem is caused by crossing conflicts, speeding, poor visibility, or other factors.

Ultimately, the goal should not simply be to make vehicles move in an orderly manner, but to ensure that motorists, passengers, pedestrians, and especially young road users arrive at their destinations safely.

Traffic lights may tell drivers when to stop and when to go. But preventing road accidents will require more than red, yellow, and green lights.

For a city where motorcycles and young riders figure prominently in accident reports, the bigger challenge is changing road behavior—not just changing traffic signals.