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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOTr pushes for reduction of road accident deaths by 35% before PBBM term ends

DOTr pushes for reduction of road accident deaths by 35% before PBBM term ends

Published Dec 6, 2023 01:07 am

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is pushing for more stringent requirements in issuing driver’s license and thorough road worthiness inspection of all motor vehicles as it sets its goal of reducing road accident deaths by 35 percent before the end of the term of President Marcos.

DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said the two stringent measures are under the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan which was presented during the Asia Pacific Road Safety Observatory 2023 Annual Meeting.

“Our goal of reducing road accident deaths by 35 percent by 2028 and by 50 percent by 2033 was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly. This is part of the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan that actively promotes road safety,” said Bautista.

Bautista’s statement came several hours after the fatal bus accident in Antique on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 5, that left at least 25 people dead.

Based on the data of the World Health Organization, around 1.3 million people die in road accidents around the world while between 20 million to 50 million are injured, including injuries that result in disability.

The same data disclosed that road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29 years, and more than half of all road traffic deaths are among vulnerable road users, namely, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

Meanwhile, 93 percent of the world's fatalities on the roads occur in low and middle income countries, and road traffic crashes cost most countries three percent of their gross domestic product.

Around 58 percent of the 1.3 million fatalities in worldwide road accidents every year, based on the separate United Nations data, happen in the Asia-Pacific region.

In the Philippines, an average of 32 people die every day as a result of road accidents, according to the UN data. 

The promotion of road safety in the Philippines was emphasized by the four-day visit in April this year of UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety Jean Todt.

On the part of the DOTr, Bautista said the prevention strategy on road safety includes the stringent and extensive requirements in the issuance of driver's license and vehicle plate as well as ensuring the roadworthiness of motor vehicles and enforcement of traffic laws by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

The transport chief also cited other road safety projects such as the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), EDSA Busway, EDSA Greenways, and Active Transport to help create awareness on road safety.

"Our holistic and long-term focus targets the drivers, pedestrians, vehicles and roads. What’s remaining is sustaining the implementation of these strategies," said Bautista.

In recognizing road crashes as a human-made health crisis, the Asia-Pacific Road Safety Observatory and Global Road Safety Partnership stress the importance of uniting governments, development agencies, businesses and civil society organizations to address the pernicious effects of road crashes.

Related Tags

road accidents Jaime Bautista DOTR
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