Road crashes increase over the years, motorcycles causing the most accidents

CEBU CITY—Road crash is increasing over the years from five to 16-17 percent victimizing very young individuals who are in the prime working age with 52 to 76 percent of vehicle type that are involved in road crashes are motorcycles.

Land Transportation Office (LTO-7) regional director Victor Emmanuel Caindec revealed these findings based on a consultative meeting on Road Safety at the UP National Institute of Health, Manila where the discussions and interagency collaboration centered on how to make roads safer to commuters.

Major findings also include pedestrians are among the most vulnerable road users with alcohol at a whopping 899 percent and speeding at 167 percent as major causes, increasing the risk of death and injury on the roads.  Non-use of helmets and seatbelts are also included among the high-risk factors of death and injury of the victims of road mishaps.

Seven out of 10 road mishaps in the country are caused by motorcycles and the most fatal accidents in Region 7 are in Bohol specifically Tagbilaran, Dauis and Panglao, Caindec bared.

Meanwhile, LTO-7 apprehended 272 vehicles during its random checkpoint in Cebu over the weekend, April 15-16.  Caindec described the operation as an "endurance weekend" as he posted on his Facebook photos of motorcycles that were apprehended for impounding.

LTO 7 Law Enforcement Officers with the Cebu City Police Office-Traffic Enforcement Unit conducted the roadside inspection in the infamous banking site of the motorcycle enthusiasts in Cebu, Transcentral Highway in Cebu City on April 16 where 31 motorcycles were impounded and 78 motorcycle owners received e electronic Temporary Operator's Permits (-TOPs).

Over 100 vehicles were issued e-TOPs and 49 vehicles went straight to the LTO-7 impounding area during the operation.  Caindec said that most of the violations for those that were impounded were driving with expired licenses, expired registrations, mufflers exceeding the allowed decibels, and/or with defective or missing equipment/parts in their vehicles.

Violations that were issued e-TOPs were those of non-wearing of seatbelts and or overloading.  Cainded added that more e-TOPs were issued during the roadside inspection with the City of Talisay Traffic Operations & Development Authority (CCTODA) and Talisay City Police on April 14 at the South Road Properties (SRP).

The operation lasted for nine hours that started at 2:00 p.m. and it yielded some 45 vehicles that were issued e-TOPs while 9 motorcycles and 9 4-wheeled vehicles were impounded for the above-mentioned violations. (Photos: RD Caindec/FB)