ACCORDING to a report published by the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), there were a total of 2,554 road accidents recorded in the country—with 286 deaths and 2,066 serious injuries—from January to February of 2014.
In 2013 the PNP-HPG recorded a total of 12,875 road accidents in the country—6,212 occurred at night, while 6,663 occurred during the day.
A majority of those occurred between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., while the remaining happened between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m.
The report also showed that the majority of the victims were not wearing seatbelts, which was in complete disregard of Republic Act 8750, also known as the Seatbelt Use Act of 1999—which mandates drivers and front passengers of both private and public vehicles to wear seatbelts while inside a running vehicle.
Senior Supt. Elizabeth Velasquez of the PNP-HPG said, “Every year there is an increase in road accidents. Our data showed a 20-percent increase this year from the 9,470 road accidents recorded in 2012.”
Velasquez explained, “Many car accidents are caused by human factors such as bad overtaking, bad turning, overspeeding, drunk driving, using a mobile phone while driving, hit-and-runs, and overloading.”
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Road Safety Unit shared that in Metro Manila alone, there were a total of 337 deaths and 13,903 serious injuries from January to October 2013.
From the data gathered by Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System, the month of May had the highest death toll with 41 incidents.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership, Alberto Suansing, said, “Road crashes are primarily caused by drivers’ poor behavior.
They drive the vehicle without checking if the vehicle is in good condition.
They disregard safety precautions when traversing a road under poor conditions. The challenge is for the authorities to change the drivers’ attitudes.”
“Road accidents are a serious threat to motorists’ lives. We need to encourage safe-driving habits in order to help reduce the number of road accidents,” Suansing said.
Here are some helpful tips from the Land Transportation Office and MMDA:
Wear your seat belt at all times. Almost 90-percent of Filipinos don’t use seat belts. In a crash, you’re twice as likely to die if you don’t wear seat belts.
Always remember the checklist point. Before you hit the road, always check your tire pressures, brake fluid, engine oil, engine coolant, washers, wipers and fuel gauge. You need also to secure or remove any loose objects, set the correct driving position and adjust your mirrors.
Keep a safe distance. Always keep a three-second gap between you and the vehicle in front of you. This will allow you to avoid hitting it in case you need to brake suddenly.
Don’t drink and drive. Don’t drive if you’ve had alcohol. Any amount of alcohol will affect your driving ability.
Don’t drive tired. Sleepy drivers are eight times more likely to crash. Take a 15-minute break after every two hours of driving.
Be observant on the road. Be sure to use your signal lights properly when changing lanes and overtaking. Always stay alert and watch for signs of danger. Look ahead to spot any changes in the road surface.
Avoid distractions. Using a mobile phone while driving is dangerous, so don’t even think about it.
Don’t use your hazard lights in a heavy downpour. When your hazards lights are on, the drivers following you will not know if you intend to switch lanes or stop.
Plan your trip. Always check the weather, traffic and road conditions. Don’t panic if you miss an exit on a highway, get off at the next one.