Vehicular accidents in NCR rise in 2016—MMDA

by Joel E. Zurbano, Manila Standard, Feb 12, 2017

THE number of vehicular accidents in the National Capital Region rose in 2016 by 13,707 to 109,322 from the 95,615 the previous year, an annual report from the Metro Manila Development Authority showed.

Based on the data collated by the MMDA through its Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System program, a total of 426 people were killed while 16,416 others were injured in road accidents.

The 2016 program report showed reckless motorcycle riding remained the top cause of deaths and injuries in streets of the metropolis.

It said motorcycles had the “highest fatality accident rate” with 218 the total number of deaths, followed by trucks (103) and private cars (98).

The records said 23,105 motorcycles were involved in road accidents last year.

Motorcycles also topped the list of vehicles with the most number of injuries at 11,456, followed by cars (7,544), and public utility jeepneys (1,922).

The program, created by the MMDA, aimed at improving road management in the metropolis, recorded 519 deaths and 17,103 injuries involving motorcycles in 2015.

Quezon City recorded the highest number of accidents last year with 33,717 followed by Makati (12,505) and Manila (11,307).

Pateros, on the other hand, has the lowest number of road incidents in 2016, followed by Navotas and Malabon.

“We can now consider these LGU’s [local government units] to be the safest in Metro Manila in terms of road crash incidents, since they have lesser recorded fatal, non-fatal and damage to property incidents in the [program] database up to this date,” the MMDA report said.

Quezon City also topped the list of cities in terms of fatalities with 116 deaths in 2016, followed by Manila (66) and Parañaque (37).

Government records showed most road accidents happen because of undisciplined motorists, drunk driving and the use of mobile phones while driving.

Most of these incidents involved reckless motorcycle-riding men.

Records also showed the number of motorcycles had steadily increased over the last four years in the Philippines.

The entry of cheap motorcycles in the country and the worsening traffic condition in Metro Manila are seen as the primary reasons in pushing the demand for motorcycles.

The MMDA has been coming up with solutions to solve the problem in road safety.

Among the measures are the installations of pedestrian facilities, signages and footbridges.

Sidewalk clearing operations were also intensified.

“Road safety is a global concern and the task to lessen the number of traffic accidents is a daunting objective but possible with the cooperation and support of the public,” the MMDA said.