Motorcycles now dominate RP streets

Motorcycles and tricycles now dominate the Philippine streets, according to the government’s statistical board.

“Close to half of the private vehicles roaming our streets are motorcycles or tricycles. Would we consider this progress? Or is this additional proof that indeed, the Pinoy middle class is shrinking,” said Romulo Virola, secretary-general of the National Statistical Coordination Board.

“As of 2008, there were 5.9 million vehicles registered, or seven vehicles for every 100 Pinoys,” he said.

Specifically, data showed that as of 2008, there were 5.891 million registered vehicles in the country, including 4.9 million private vehicles, 899,211 utility vehicles and over 73,000 government vehicles.

Of the total number of private vehicles, 2.36 million or 48.1 percent were motorcycles or tricycles.

From 2000 to 2008, motor vehicle registration rose 6.0 percent annually, outpacing the population growth of 2.0 percent.

Metro Manila had the highest number of registered vehicles at 1.67 million units as of 2008 while Caraga had the least with nearly 0.62 million vehicles.

Driver’s licenses issued in 2008 reached 4.184 million, or about 4.8 percent of the population. Male drivers outnumbered female drivers five to one.

Despite the increase in general traffic, data also showed that the national roads improved in quality from only 23.5-percent concrete roads in 1986 to 45.8 percent in 2008.

The total length of bridges also increased 42.3 percent from about 230,200 meters in 1986 to 327,700 meters in 2008.

“Permanent national roads expanded the most, overall, during the Ramos administration by 28.2 percent, but on an annualized basis this happened during the Estrada administration by 6.8 percent,” he said.

Traffic violations also increased by 9.8 percent in 2008. From 2005 to 2008, the ratio of apprehensions to total number of driver’s licenses issued averaged about 22 percent.

The most commonly-violated requirement is that provided under the Republic Act 8750 or the Seatbelt Use Act.

About 25 percent of the most common violations in 2008 was the failure to install or failure to wear seatbelt. It was followed by failure to carry a copy of the official receipt or certificate of registration with a share of 11.2 percent.

In terms of fatalities, traffic accidents averaged two fatalities for every 10 accidents compared to an average of six fatalities for every 10 maritime accidents.

“But because traffic accidents are more frequent, the total fatalities in traffic accidents is more than seven times that in maritime accidents for the years 1998 to 2007,” Virola said. –Roderick T. dela Cruz, Manila Standard Today