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The MMDA’s Metropolitan Road Safety Unit (MRSU)
observes that “motorcycles are becoming one among the favorite
transportation means.” This is because of its mobility,
affordability and being seemingly the answer to the problem of
escalating fuel prices.
The MMDA says the number of
motorcycles is increasing even more rapidly than the number of other
vehicles.
But the risk it poses to the
motorcyclist is twice as high as the risk to a car driver or rider.
Motorcycles also do not have the same safety features that cars and
other vehicles have. As a result, motorcycle drivers and riders are
more vulnerable to serious injuries when involved in collisions.
The MRSU’s Motorcycle-Related
Accidents report for the first quarter of 2008 shows that in January
there were seven fatalities, 500 nonfatal injuries and 588 cases of
damage to property or a total of 995 events. In February, there were
11 fatalities, 490 nonfatal injuries and 441 damage cases for a
total of 942 events. In March, there were five fatalities, 433
nonfatal injuries and 432 damage cases for a total of 870 events.
All in all, there were 23
fatalities in the first three months of 2008, 1,423 non-fatal
injuries and 1,361 cases of damage to property for a grand total of
2,807 events.
In January to March 2007, there
were 28 fatalities compared with 2008’s 23 deaths. So there is an
improvement.
But 2007 only had 1,275 nonfatal
injuries while 2008 had 1,423—or an almost 20-percent increase.
And there were also more damage to property in January to March 2008
(1,361 cases) compared with only 1,225 cases in 2007. In 2008, there
were a total of 2,807 motorcycle incidents compared with January to
March 2007’s 2,528 cases.
In the National Capital Region,
Quezon City had the most incidents in January to March 2008 with 737
incidents, followed by Pasig, 233; and Parañaque, 232; followed by
Las Piñas, 205; Marikina, 192; Muntinlupa, 189; Mandaluyong, 139;
and Caloocan, 136. The city with the least incidents is Pateros with
only seven.
Human error—bad overtaking,
driving too fast, sudden stop and bad turning—were the most common
reason for accidents.
The frightening thing is that the
industry expects more motorcycle sales because, as stated, of the
spike in fuel prices.
And everybody knows that
motorcycles are swarming in—smuggled in—by the hundred thousands
through our ports and beaches.
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