‘You may have a fantastic motion plan which has been revealed by the Secretary of Transport, however that’s your first step,’ Jean Todt, UN Particular Envoy for Highway Security says. ‘What is essential is implementation.’
MANILA, Philippines – About 12,000 Filipinos die resulting from highway crashes yearly, accounting for each pedestrians and motorists.
United Nations Particular Envoy for Highway Security Jean Todt stated boosting the tutorial marketing campaign on highway security and a greater enforcement enforcement of site visitors guidelines might be the important thing. It might assist enhance the nation’s highway security statistics.
Todt, a former System 1 racing govt, visited Manila from November 7 to 11 to fulfill with key authorities officers — together with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“You could educate younger individuals,” Todt stated, recalling how in Bangkok, youngsters as younger as 4 and 5 years outdated have been already studying the way to behave when driving a bicycle on the streets.
“It’s essential to enhance the current and to construct the long run,” he stated.
The Division of Well being (DOH), by way of its On-line Nationwide Digital Harm Surveillance System, noticed that 31.1% of accidents logged within the nation’s database in 2023 may be traced to a vehicular accident.
However highway site visitors accidents have been declining, in response to information from the Division of Inside and Native Authorities (DILG).
In 2024, 85,954 highway site visitors accidents have been recorded to this point, decrease in comparison with the 121,771 logged in 2019, stated DILG Undersecretary for Public Security Serafin Barretto Jr. in the course of the press briefing on November 11. Metro Manila, nonetheless, stays to be the hotspot for these accidents.
Well being Secretary Teodoro Herbosa emphasised: “The emergency room is the recipient of society’s unhealthy habits.” The trauma surgeon identified that almost all of those accidents occur as a result of motorists fail to take fundamental security precautions — happening a motorbike drive and not using a helmet, texting whereas driving, drunk driving, and failing to safe themselves with a seat belt, amongst others.
A highway security plan exists
In Could 2023, the Division of Transportation (DOTr) and the World Well being Group (WHO) launched the Philippine Highway Security Motion Plan, which maps out the nation’s initiatives from 2023 to 2028. It already covers highway security administration, having safer infrastructure and autos on the highway, and public consciousness for highway security applications.
“You may have a fantastic motion plan which has been revealed by the Secretary of Transport, however that’s your first step,” Todt stated. “What is essential is implementation.”
Todt stated Marcos dedicated to create of a activity drive to implement the plan, which incorporates representatives from a number of authorities businesses such because the DOTr, DILG, DOH, and the Division of Training, amongst others.
Based on Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, the duty drive may also obtain assist from totally different non-government organizations and embassies.
“We are able to make good reviews to, not solely the President, however report back to the individuals in order that the individuals shall be extra concerned as a result of… it’s not only a duty of presidency to cut back highway site visitors [accidents], it’s the duty of everyone,” Bautista stated.
Except for applications for motorists, the transport secretary added that the duty drive will look into growing and bettering infrastructure for pedestrians.
“This one we are going to focus on with the Division of Public Works and Highways in order that for future development of roads and enchancment of roads, the development of pedestrian lanes may be thought of,” Bautista stated.
The DOH is proposing the creation of a highway security index. “Perhaps the primary method is to actually discover out which of those roads may be mounted.”
Herbosa identified that some roads may have higher lighting to assist keep away from accidents from taking place, whereas others may have an overpass to maintain pedestrians secure.
“It’s all in regards to the roads, the automobile, after which the motive force so it’s not about actually the realm. It’s actually the three elements that we have to repair,” Herbosa stated.
Requiring two helmets?
In the meantime, with extra commuters within the metro now preferring motorbikes — as a less expensive various for commute and as a approach to beat site visitors — Todt is recommending that the bikes be bought with not less than two helmets.
The each day quantity of bikes in Metro Manila jumped to 1.67 million in 2023 from 433,340 in 2013, based mostly on a examine by the Congressional Coverage and Finances Analysis Division. Motorcyle accidents grew as properly — with 36,486 in 2023 from 20,272 in 2013.
However the variety of accidents might be larger in provinces.
“The helmet is obligatory however there are a lot of locations within the provinces the place they don’t use helmets,” Bautista stated, noting that higher enforcement of security measures with the assistance of the DILG, amongst others, can be wanted.
Todt stated he really helpful to Marcos that every bike within the Philippines needs to be bought or include not less than two UN-standard helmets.
Motorbike drivers within the Philippines are required by legislation to put on helmets at any time when they’re on the highway.
Nevertheless, Todt identified that normally, the motorbike would have two passengers — the motive force and a passenger. – Rappler.com
