Starting Monday (December 11) at 6am, don’t be surprised if you seen bunch of cars getting caught in EDSA because of the one-week trial implementation of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane.

This brilliant idea came from the bureau of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in response to lessened traffic in the Metro.

In a press conference last Wednesday, MMDA Assistant General Manager for Planning Jojo Garcia, said, “The implementation for dry run of HOV Lane located at the fifth and left most lane along Edsa, was approved by the Metro Manila Council (MMC).  Only those with two passengers or more would have the privilege to pass through the HOV Lane. Motorcycle riders can also use the said lane aside from the motorcycle lane in the fourth lane. Private car drivers with no companion can still use the motorcycle lane (second) and third lane from the MRT.”

So what is a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane? Well, the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane (also known as HOV lane) is a restricted traffic lane reserved at peak travel times or longer for the exclusive use of vehicles with a driver and one or more passengers, including carpools. HOV lanes may be either a single traffic lane within the main roadway with distinctive markings. HOV are also seen in some countries like United States, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and Australia, Indonesia and China.

Metro Manila Council (MMC) also approved to lower the speed limit from a maximum of 60 kilometer per hour to 50 kph. According to MMC, this speed measurement is to further minimize vehicular accidents.

Meanwhile, Garcia said the MMC has decided to defer action on the proposed odd-even scheme and the two-day number coding scheme. The MMC, composed of the seventeen Metro Manila mayors, is the policy-making body of the MMDA.

Motorists that will caught violating the HOV lane will be apprehended via no-contact apprehension policy and will be subject to P500 penalty.

Will this proposed traffic mitigation measure of MMDA work? We don’t know that for sure. For now, let’s just wait and see what happens.

*Photos courtesy of MMDA and Philippine Retailers Association