The City of Manila is full of driver traps if you are unfamiliar with where you are going. Here is one of those traps - approaching Lagusnilad from Lawton.

I passed by here lately and I approached this corner in the inner lane. I intend to turn left because I remember this was open. But when I reached the corner Padre Burgos St. and Natividad Almeda Lopez St., I saw a No Left Turn sign so when green light came on, I drove straight. This is where a cop flagged me. I asked what is my violation and he said that I am driving through a Public Utility Vehicles only lane? In my mind - what?! an inner lane reserved for public utility only? I can hardly believe there is such a law but regardless I asked if there is a sign that says so (for example am I in a yellow lane like in EDSA) and the cop says there are signs posted approaching the corner. I thought there must be so I relented and told the cop to just issue me a ticket. To my surprise, he let me go without a ticket and simply told me not to go through the lane again. Something is odd - I dared him to give me a ticket and he did not?

A few days later, I was in the area and I actually walked along the sidewalk to look for the sign that should be warning motorists to avoid going through the inner lane - and there is none! I observed for about 10 more minutes in the corner and these cops flagged 3 private cars. What kind of stupid traffic rule is that? Only in chaotic Manila.

If you are approaching this area and you are not a PUV, stay in the outer lanes so you don't get trapped in this area by some crooked cop.

This is a repost from my blog with image from Google Maps for illustration.