Why is it rare to find a pedestrian crossing in the Philippines where cars come to a full stop when a pedestrian steps onto the road? Most drivers know what the zebra crossings mean and that pedestrians have priority. It is all about the certainty of being caught and penalized. If you are confident that no one will catch you, there is the temptation to break the rules — especially if you are already running late or have been stuck in traffic for hours.

What if you knew that a CCTV camera was monitoring the area and recording the plate numbers of every vehicle that fails to stop when a pedestrian crosses? If traffic violators were automatically issued citations for their infractions, we would see a dramatic change in driver behavior. This is the impact that the No Contact Apprehension Program (NCAP) had in several local government units (Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Muntinlupa, and Parañaque) where it was implemented. Unfortunately, the NCAP has been suspended since August 2022 as a result of a temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court in response to petitions filed by transport industry groups and one lawyer.