The City Traffic and Transportation Management Office (CTTMO) is celebrating the Road Safety Month by intensifying its information and education campaign on responsible driving.
Presidential Proclamation No. 115-A declares the month of May as Road Safety Month, mandating the government to emphasize and spread awareness about safety, causes of road accidents and measures to prevent them.
CTTMO Head Dionisio Abude, during the I-Speak media forum on Thursday, said raising awareness to road safety is a significant endeavor that the CTTMO emphasizes all year round. He said the cityâs growing traffic density and the numerous ongoing public road projects make road safety an even more essential facet of traffic management.
âIn line sa atong Road Safety Month, importante gyud kaayo na i-follow nato ang traffic rules and regulations para ma-ensure nato ang safety sa operator or driver, safety sa mga passengers, og safety pud sa mga pedestrians (In line with our Road Safety Month, it is very important that we follow the traffic rules and regulations so that we can ensure the safety of the operator or driver, the safety of passengers, and the safety of pedestrians),â Abude said.
From January to April this year, the CTTMO logged 3,516 road crash cases. Of these, private vehicles top the highest number of incidents with 1,386 crashes (or 39%), followed by motorcycles with 638 (or 18%).
A total of 632,775 cases of traffic violation apprehensions had been recorded in the same months. Of which, 491,981 have been settled with the rest still pending.
The CTTMO Chief said a significant portion of these numbers can be attributed to human error and could have been avoided had drivers been more mindful of the rules and regulations of road safety.
He said that the most common causes of road crash incidents due to human error are over-speeding, mobile phone use while driving, and driving under the influence.
Abude reminded that drivers are obligated to make only good choices when they drive. These include avoiding liquor and other intoxicating substances, avoiding the use of cellphones while driving, proper seatbelt use, driving within the speed limit, being mindful of pedestrian lanes and crosswalks, regular car maintenance and inspection, and the wearing of helmet for motorcycle drivers. These practices, among others, are included in the seminars and lectures periodically given to Private Utility Vehicle (PUV) drivers by the CTTMO.
Abude added that other human factors such as the driverâs mental and physical health also play a role in road safety. Therefore, it is also vital for drivers to maintain good health and make certain that they are able to keep their focus on the road
âMao na ang dapat ipahimangno nato sa mga drivers na dapat mu-follow gyud ta sa traffic rules and regulations kay para mabawasan nato ang risks sa traffic accident (That’s why we should remind our drivers–that we should really follow the traffic rules and regulations so that we can reduce the risks of traffic accidents),â he said. CIO
