By Rey Anthony Chiu
PIA - Bohol
Would the government’s putting up of the proper signs and facilities in highways curb the alarming deaths by road accidents here, that still remains to be seen.But, as a palliative solution to the alarming deaths by road mishaps here, especially on motorcycle accidents, the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) adopted a resolution asking the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to install proper signages to road sections identified by Bohol’s district engineers as accident prone, in a bid to stem the accidents.
This as the PPOC also took on the alarming fatalities brought about by road accidents here as a bad picture of a tourism-engaged province.
According to the presentation at the PPOC, PSSupt Edgardo Ingking said Bohol had about 1,626 vehicular accidents and at least 97 fatalities as recorded from road mishaps since January to December last year.
The most alarming of all, 1,461 of the 1626 cases, are motorcycle accidents, owning to the recorded 97 deaths. all of them, motorists without crash helmets on the incident.
According to the data analysis presented by the police, of the 190 vehicular accidents (four wheeled vehicles), majority or about 86.8% were all caused by human error.
The police data analysis did not however sort the statistics of motorcycle accidents, but observers speculate that a big percentage of it the deaths are also rendered by undisciplined motorcycle riders.
Of the past year, some 1063 were injured from motorcycle accidents while no data was given on other vehicles.
The numbers, now further highlighting the necessity for government to install road safety measures also comes as a stern reminder on the faulty driving practices of people, presses a PPOC member during the meeting.
At the PPOC, Ingking also said aside from human error, accident survivors also point to road defects and vehicle defects as causes of accidents.
Road defects make up to about 11.05% of the accident cases while vehicle defects only account to 2.1%, Ingking reports bare. By road defects, PPOC means poorly lit highways and absent signages.
Taking this as cue, the PPOC immediately passed the resolution requesting DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane to cause the installation of traffic signs and accident prone areas as identified.
As to the human error, PSSupt has underscored in reports last week the need for every driver to abide by the provisions of the Traffic code of the Philippines.
Moreover, he called fro drivers to exercise road courtesy even as he bats for reinvigorated campaign for the use of crash helmets for motorcyclists in a bid to reduce accidents and lessen fatalities.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=8951.0