Stave-off road crash deaths

by 35% in next 5 years-DOH

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—In support to the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan for 2023-2028, the Department of Health (DOH) partners with Local government units, government agencies and even the private sector to bring down road traffic deaths by 35 %.

The goal becomes so daunting considering that in 2023, “the Philippines had 13,101 road traffic deaths,” according to United Nation’s Children’s Educational Fund (UNICEF) Health Officer Dr. Angelito Umali.

This is nearly two in every ten deaths in the country.

DOH Regional Director Dr. Joshua Brilliantes, who came in barely a week after getting assigned as the new director for Central Visayas admits that the task is impossible without the cooperation of everyone.

Here, health authorities admit that the alarming increase in traffic vehicular accidents has become a public health issue especially when it is the leading causes of death for children aged 5 to 14, and young adults 15-29 years old.

“Children whose world widened after parents start allowing them to go to school unaccompanied, are becoming victims of traffic accidents,” Provincial Health Officer Dr. Fruserma Mary Uy said.

And when these kids learn to drive, they expose themselves to the dangerous world of the streets, where the undisciplined drivers and non-road worthy vehicles reign the streets, added Dr. Brilliantes.

“It has to be a whole of nation approach, considering that drivers easily hack the system and get licenses even without really knowing about traffic rules,” added John Alison Uy, who sits as board secretary of the Private Vehicle Inspection Center Operator’s Association of the Philippines (VICOAP).

Beyond the drivers, the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) with focus on safety, efficiency, and environmental friendliness is being stalled by the government’s lack of funds, this opened the task to private vehicle inspections to operate side by side with government’s manual inspections at the Land Transportation Office.

The problem with manual inspection is the introduction of the human factor that could easily fail especially with the fixer system still rampant, sums up Uy, who hinted that several of road crashes are due to faulty vehicle systems.

Spent brake pads, broken wipers, broken windshields, busted brake lights, expired tyres, distracted driving, and the irresistible use of mobile phones complicate the situation.

While the PTMP aims to provide a more comfortable, accessible, and reliable public transportation system for Filipinos, even the road infrastructure is designed for four wheeled vehicles, exposing bicycle riders and motorcyclists in extreme danger of getting side-swept of getting ran over by the kings of the road, points out Dr. Umali.

It has to be a whole of nation approach, agree majority of the stakeholders during the event, held at the Bohol Cultural Center, May 19, to honor May as Road Safety Month.

Everyone can do something: Always wear proper helmet when riding motorcycles, put seat belts on every time you ride, keep your calm, especially in tense road situations, keep off that mobile phone while driving, and do not drink and drive, the campaign says.

Stay away from fixers, you should be able to pass the driving examinations after a short review of the traffic rules, and do not disregard simple vehicle maintenance schedules, to keep your vehicles at its prime, adds Uy.

Drive safely and come home to the family whole, the campaign slogan states.

The forum ended with stakeholders signing a pledge of commitment as responsible member of the community to uphold and promote road safety values, because every life matters. (RAHC/PIA_7/Bohol)

EVERYONE’s RESPONSIBILITY. Stakeholders during the recent Road Safety Awareness Forum at the Bohol Cultural Center sign their pledge of commitment to uphold the rules of road safety because every life matters. The DOH brought to Bohol its campaign in Road Safety especially because region 7 ranks first in road traffic related injuries in 2024 at 6,621 cases. (PIABohol)