Capabilities of Traffic Enforcers in Implementing Traffic Rules and Regulations in Nueva Ecija

It is generally accepted that it is not possible to completely prevent vehicle crashes, but that some of the injuries and severity can be prevented or minimized by skilled traffic enforcer. The study used descriptive method as it describes the present condition. A total of 205 respondents composing of 155 commuters and 50 traffic enforcers were surveyed. Based on the findings of the study, the commuters perceived traffic enforcers to be knowledgeable, skilled and displaying good attitude in implementing traffic rules. Thus, it is recommended that the commuters also should educate themselves in traffic rules and regulations. The traffic enforcers perceived themselves to be knowledgeable, skilled and displaying good attitude in implementing traffic rules. Thus, it is recommended that the traffic enforcers should update their knowledge, skills, and attitude through seminars and trainings for them to improve continuously.


INTRODUCTION
It is generally accepted that it is not possible to completely prevent vehicle crashes, but that some of the injuries and severity can be prevented or minimized by skilled traffic enforcer. Redhwan and Karim (2010) stated that most cause of road traffic collisions is drivers ' lack of awareness about traffic regulations and laws, and drivers ' failure to comply with traffic rules and regulations. Thus, Borlongan (2007) emphasized that traffic laws should be strictly enforced in the highly urbanized Philippine cities; hence, traffic enforcers.
According to Al Mazruii (2015), Traffic enforcing goals are unclear to officers in current traffic policing strategies and practices, and this appeared to have a negative impact on road safety achievement.
Al Khaldi (2006) concluded that negative attitudes and practice of a driver can only be addressed by the traffic enforcer with aggressive enforcement of the regulation. Mohlala (2017) further concluded that traffic enforcers' presence must have high visibility, as defined, to deal with the lawlessness of the breach on all serious offences.
In light of the insights, the researcher would like to assess the capabilities of traffic enforcer/police/officers in Nueva Ecija in the implementation of Traffic Rules and Regulations.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
According to Pienaar (2007), the traffic officer during an investigation into an accident should not only have sound knowledge of the road and the environment but also the effect of factors on the road and the environment that must be brought into contention. Espada et al. (2008) stated that the assessment of the technical know-how of the road staff responsible for transport planning and traffic management is crucial. Ramavhunga (2018) to address the challenges were; training to improve traffic officers ' abilities; continuous training to improve efficiency; increased involvement by the state to increase efficiency and diversify training to make it effective.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
This paper described the perception of commuters on the capabilities of traffic enforcers in implementing rules and regulations be described in terms of knowledge, skills, and attitude. Likewise, the traffic enforcer's self-assessment in implementing rules and regulations be described in terms of knowledge, skills, and attitude.

METHODOLOGY
The study used descriptive method as it describes the present condition. Descriptive Method is designed for the researcher to gather information about presenting existing conditions and to describe the nature of the situation as it exists at the time of the study and to explore the causes of particular phenomena (Camic et al., 2003). A total of 205 respondents composing of 155 commuters and 50 traffic enforcers were surveyed. The researcher used Likert-scale type questionnaire (Vagias, 2006) and analyzed it through statistical data treatment such as mean and weighted mean.  Table 1 presented the knowledge of traffic enforcers based on the perception of commuters. Statement 2 obtained the highest weighted mean of (3.96) with a verbal interpretation of "Agree" while statement 4 obtained the lowest weighted mean of (3.72) with a verbal interpretation of "Agree."  Table 2 presented the skills of traffic enforcers based on the perception of commuters. Statement 3 gained the highest weighted mean of (4.12) with a verbal interpretation of "Agree" while statement 4 gained the lowest weighted mean of (3.62) with a verbal interpretation of "Agree."  Table 3 presented attitude of traffic enforcers based on the perception of commuters. Statement 2 got the highest weighted mean of (3.70) with a verbal interpretation of "Agree" while statement 4 got the lowest weighted mean of "Agree".  Table 4 presented the knowledge of traffic enforcers based on selfassessment. Statement 1 obtained the highest weighted mean of (4.61) with a verbal interpretation of "Strongly Agree" while statement 5 obtained the lowest weighted mean of (4.23) with a verbal interpretation of "Strongly Agree".  Table 5 presented the skills of traffic enforcers based on selfassessment. Statement 1 got the highest weighted mean of (4.61) with a verbal interpretation of "Strongly Agree" while statement 2 got the lowest weighted mean of (4.02) with a verbal interpretation of "Strongly Agree".  Table 6 presented the attitude of traffic enforcers based on selfassessment. Statement 1 gained the highest weighted mean of (4.70) with a verbal interpretation of "Strongly Agree" while statements 3 and 4 gained the lowest weighted mean of (4.32) with a verbal interpretation of "Strongly Agree".

CONCLUSION
Based on the findings of the study, the commuters perceived traffic enforcers to be knowledgeable, skilled and displaying good attitude in implementing traffic rules. Thus, it is recommended that the commuters also should educate themselves in traffic rules and regulations. The traffic enforcers perceived themselves to be knowledgeable, skilled and displaying good attitude in implementing traffic rules. Thus, it is recommended that the traffic enforcers should update their knowledge, skills, and attitude through seminars and trainings for them to improve continuously.