10,000 die annually from road crashes in PH, group says | ABS-CBN

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10,000 die annually from road crashes in PH, group says

10,000 die annually from road crashes in PH, group says

Ina Reformina,

ABS-CBN News

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MANILA - More than 10,000 die annually from road crashes in the Philippines, with those aged 20 to 24 being the most vulnerable, a group of road safety activists said Friday.

According to ‘Dahan Dahan sa Daan,’ a growing network of road safety advocates, road crash is the main cause of death among people aged 15-19 years globally.

Globally, an estimated 1.25 million die from road crashes every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

In commemoration of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, a special exhibit kicked off Friday in Quezon City.

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It will run at Eastwood City Walk's cinema lobby up to November 18, and will be moved to the Senate and House of Representatives on Nov. 26-28.

The photo display aims to step up the campaign to inform the public of five risk factors in road safety namely, speed, child restraints system, helmet, driving under the influence, and seatbelt.

It also aims to highlight the five pillars of the Philippines’ Road Safety Action Plan: improved road safety management, safer roads, safer vehicles, safer road users, and improved trauma care and rehabilitation.

Thirty-three percent of road crashes in Metro Manila happen in Quezon City, according to Councilor Alexis Herrera III.

The city also has the highest road network in the region, which is why the local government passed the Road Safety Code of Quezon City in 2017, the first of its kind in the country.

Transportation Undersecretary Mark de Leon said the department is pushing for the setting up of a special unit for the promotion of and response to road safety, and ensure the success of programs such as the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan.

“The problem now is sustainability of our efforts… Gusto namin magkaroon ng dedicated unit to work on road safety so that all our efforts are sustained,” he said.


SPEEDING

When are you speeding?

‘Dahan Dahan sa Daan’ said it is when you are driving higher than the posted speed limit, driving at a speed that is not appropriate for your environment (slipper road, school zone, etc.), and/or when your speed will not allow you to avoid a crash.

According to the 2004 World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention, speed is “particularly lethal” for pedestrians hit by vehicles at the following speeds:

30 kilometers per hour - 95 percent survival rate
50 kilometers per hour - 45 percent survival rate
60 kilometers per hour - 10 percent survival rate

In the Philippines, laws such as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code of 1964 and the Speed Limiter Act of 2016 have been passed to make roads safer.

Based on the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, these are the speed limits for particular road classifications:

  • Open roads: 80 kph for cars, motorcycles; 50 kph for trucks, buses, tricycles
  • Trough streets: 40 kph for cars, motorcycles; 30 kph for trucks, buses, tricycles
  • City and municipal roads: 30 kph for cars, motorcycles trucks, buses, tricycles
  • Collector roads and crowded streets: 20 kph for cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses, tricycles

The DPWH classifies roads for speed limit-setting, but local governments may lower the speed limit on national roads, if necessary, subject to the approval of DOTr and DPWH.


CHILD SAFETY IN MOTOR VEHICLES

A bill seeking to require the use of child restraints systems in private vehicles is pending in Congress.

Child car seats and restraints system reduces the risk of injury in the event of abrupt deceleration and collision.

The bill was passed on third reading in February by the House of Representatives, and in October at the Senate.

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