Anyone who has ever navigated the primary artery of Metro Manila — Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue, or EDSA — knows that the throbbing ribbon of concrete pulsates with the lifeblood of the metropolis.

Spanning a mere 23.8 kilometers, it passes through six of Metro Manila's 17 local government units, namely, from north to south, Caloocan, Quezon City, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati and Pasay City.

EDSA also connects the North Luzon Expressway, through the Balintawak Interchange in Quezon City with the South Luzon Expressway, via the Magallanes Interchange in the bustling city of Makati.

Despite the MRT-3 providing an alternative mode of transportation, EDSA, except on Sundays, feels more like a congested vein, clogged with frustrated passengers and motorists, and not a few who succumb to road rage.

All is not lost, though, as a glimmer of hope shines through in that experiment, the EDSA Busway, a dedicated lane for faster bus travel, as an incentive for more people to leave their cars at home and take the carousel bus. The scheme is finally showing signs of success.

According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the apprehension of violators aboard vehicles not authorized to use the lane has plummeted in the past week.

Not beyond beating its own drums, the MMDA credited the diminishing of busway "crashers" to their consistency in daily operations and, of course, the recent stratospheric hike in penalties — P5,000 for the first offense; P10,000 and a month-long driver's license suspension for the second offense; P20,000 and a year-long suspension for the third offense; and P30,000 and possible license revocation on the fourth offense.

This isn't just about punishing undisciplined motorists; it's also about creating a system that works for everyone, as EDSA, despite its narrowness, is intended to move many people.

When motorists encroach on this dedicated lane, they're not just breaking traffic regulations but also undermining the entire system.

What kind of society allows lawbreakers to flout the law with impunity? What kind of message does that send? We teach our children to follow rules and play fairly, yet we do not apply the same standards to ourselves.

Those who see the penalties as being too harsh miss the point because this is about more than just money; it's more about safety, efficiency, and respect for other road users.

While at it, the government should impose a one-strike policy on any motorist who would evade traffic stops, like the many motorcycle riders who have played the deadly game of tag and catch-me-if-you-can with traffic enforcers, endangering themselves, the latter, and all of the people unlucky enough to be near them as they tried to escape.

EDSA is not only a barometer of traffic in the metropolis, with nearly a million people using it each day, but also a gauge of what kind of people we are. Lawlessness cannot be allowed to prevail in such a short roadway, or we'd be nothing short of a banana republic.

Let's always be mindful, too, of the human cost of traffic congestion. Wasted hours, missed appointments, and frayed nerves are all symptoms of a dysfunctional system. As we approach the festive season, with the promise of Christmas shopping adding to the vehicular volume, the MMDA's reminder to plan ahead and avoid the Christmas rush is a timely one.

An anticipated 20 percent increase in traffic during the holidays emphasizes the need for conscientious driving and adherence to traffic rules.

In a few weeks, we bid 2023 goodbye and welcome a brand new year. Among the many resolutions that would be made and, hopefully, kept, let the days of weaving through traffic, thumbing our noses at the rules, be over.

From being a source of frustration, EDSA can serve as a symbol of order and respect for the shared space, one that can tax our patience because of its many imperfections.