34 people involved in daily road accidents, says DOH survey

MANILA, Philippines – Thirty-four people were involved in a road accident every day during the first quarter of the year, according to the latest survey conducted by the Department of Health (DOH). The latest National Electronic Injury Surveillance System showed a total of 3,077 injuries sustained from road accidents in the first quarter of 2010.

The South Luzon Tollways Corporation (SLTC) said some motorists have been speeding up to 100 kilometers per hour because of the widening of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

“Now that road accidents have become one of the leading causes of injuries in the country today, we at SLTC felt the need to institute more safety measures at the SLEX,” said SLTC spokesperson Alma Tuason.

SLTC has constructed emergency lay-bys in key areas along the toll road. The roving patrol service is also on-call 24 hours to provide towing and mechanical services. There are also ambulances, emergency lifeline support and pre-hospital care on standby.

Electronic message boards have also been installed in toll plazas along the main carriageways to provide real-time advisory to motorists about the traffic situation and the location of accidents.

SLEX records showed that in 2009, the number of accidents was cut by 50 percent from 2007, when 146 road accidents were recorded.

Recognizing road accidents as a “major public health problem,” with a “broad range of social and economic consequences,” the United Nations passed a resolution declaring 2011 to 2020 the Decade of Action for Road Safety. The resolution urges governments to create partnerships with the private sector to implement road safety measures.

Titled “Improving Global Road Safety,” the resolution was endorsed by numerous international organizations, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. -Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star)