Road Accidents

When you’re on the road, anything can happen to you or your fellow drivers or pedestrian if not observing road safety. Road accidents often happened because of reckless driving when a person is not observing the “rules of the road.” Oftentimes, accidents happen because the driver is under the influence of liquor or even prohibited drugs.

Just recently (May 16^th, 2010), around 8:30 pm, Travel Man witnessed a road accident involving a drunk motorcycle driver and a pedestrian. While attending a barrio fiesta at the place of his friend. He, along with his friend, gave first aid to the pedestrian, by checking the pulse and extremities, from head to toe (He‘s a first aider who trained from the Philippine National Red Cross as required for many Filipino seafarers). He suffered a head concussion with an open wound but easily gained consciousness. The driver whose beside the broken right side mirror of the motorcycle was found out by TM to be drunk and puked unconsciously. The road was not well-lighted. The immediate response came from the former chief of police nearby by using his owner-type jeepney. The pedestrian (who happened to be his nephew) survived while the drunk motorcycle driver died in the hospital.

You see, most of the roads in many municipalities in the Philippines are often unfinished. You can blame it to the unscrupulous transaction in the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), its personnel down to the road contractors. These “unfinished roads” are often the cause of many accidents, even if the driver is sane or not under the influence of liquor.

Scariest roads in the Philippines

Even Travel Man’s country is considered to be a tourist haven in the Asia-Pacific, it is a frequent advisory to all travelers to be cautious of the road situations, especially in the countryside.

Overcrowding of vehicles, be it private or public utility vehicle (PUV); not observing road signs (unless guarded by policemen) and driving under the influence of liquor are the main problems that cause road accidents. These areas, aside from the fact that cementing of roads are often unfinished, are not well-lighted or no lights at the electric posts at all.

Roads in the Philippines are featured as part of the world’s scariest. Why is this so? Travel Man is sure of the prevailing anomalies in the DPWH and in the government itself. Because of too much corruption in the government, good governance is vividly compromised. The potential of tourism industry is often overlooked due to these “road problems”. But of course, foreign tourists or even the locals will be more cautious when passing these “scary roads”.

Travel Man experienced various road accidents, like being sideswiped by a tricycle and even a near collision between a tricycle and a jeepney. TM’s cousin (only a 22-year old boy) died because of motorcycle accident. Even his sister suffered leg injuries (bruises and minor fracture) due to motorcycle accident. She said that she’s a very cautious driver, only that the road is not cemented and very rough and curvy or jagged. When riding a bus, TM always see to it that he travel during daytime because road accidents often happen during nighttime.

Road Safety and Michelle Yeoh

According to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) data on road accidents, there are about 66, 000 road mishaps in Metro Manila alone involving 500 casualties or death.

The last week of May this year, saw international actress Michelle Yeoh visiting the Philippines to campaign for a safer road and lesser accidents. Being a celebrity ambassador, Miss Yeoh is campaigning to all drivers in the world to be careful and respect the pedestrians at all times. Self-discipline is a must that should be observed at all times.

There are countries having right-hand drive vehicles, like Japan. When their cars are exported o the Philippines, all of it are converted from the factories.

The following are the so-called "Rules of the Road" that a responsible car owner and driver should remember and practice diligently, whether there are coding or not.

GENERAL RULES:

No person driving a vehicle shall :

1.Reverse in an unsafe manner or allow a vehicle to run backwards for an
excessive distance or time causing danger or inconvenience to any
occupant of that vehicle or to other traffic.
2. Follow another vehicle closer than is reasonably safe considering
speed, weather and road conditions or closer than is prescribed in
these regulations;
3. Allow any person, animal or object to occupy any position prevent him
or her to be in complete control of the vehicle or hampering the
ability to signal his or her intention of stopping, slowing down or
changing direction.
4. Allow any one to interfere with the steering or other controls.
5. Occupy such position that he or she does not have complete control
over the vehicle or have a restricted view of the road and the traffic
ahead.
6. Allow the vehicle to remain unattended without setting its parking
brake or using another method to prevent the vehicle from moving.
7.Pull away from a parking bay, side of the road or any stationary
position in a manner which could interfere with or endanger traffic
approaching from any direction
8. Fail to give immediate right of way to a vehicle sounding a siren.
9. Allow any portion of his or her body to protrude outside the vehicle
while it is in motion except for the purpose of giving hand signals or
allow passengers to protrude beyond the vehicle.
10. Permit any person or animal to be on the roof, any step or running
board while the vehicle is in motion.
11. Allow the engine to emit excessive smoke or fumes.
12. Allow the engine to run while the vehicle is stationary and
unattended;
13. Allow petrol, oil or grease or other flammable or offensive matter,
ashes or refuseto spill out of the vehicle.
14. Leave the engine running while filling it with petrol or other fuel.
15. Allow any one to enter or exit the vehicle while it is moving and when
it is stationary, allow people to leave the vehicle in a dangerous
manner.
16. Drive, pull or push a vehicle on a sidewalk.

RESPECT FOR PEDESTRIANS is a must to all drivers. GADGETS or ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS should not be used while driving to avoid accident. DO NOT use hooters or horns that can cause too much public noise.

THESE GENERAL RULES APPLY TO ALL KINDS OF DRIVERS, from two-wheel motorcycles, four-wheel cars, 8-wheeler trucking service and more.

 Topics concerning "Road Safety" should be implemented and brought to many orientations o seminars to both professional and non-professional drivers. More and more accidents on the roads happened everyday, although, the transportation department  of every country in the world didn't neglect reminding drivers and vehicle owners to precautious at all times.

Let's take a breather on the following sites that could offer us more information regarding Road safety.

1. All about road safety - "Don't drink and drive", "Don't use cellular phones when driving" ...these and more advisories presented by the Ministry of Transportation of Canada, espcially in Ontario are indications that they're really implementing rules and regulations to achieve their ultimate goal: ZERO ROAD ACCIDENTS.

2. Avoid experiencing these scenario...crash, boom, braggghhh!!!!! In the USA, every state's transportation department are vigilant to avoid road accidents. The help of CCTV or cable camera television monitors on the road will surely caught traffic violators that are often the cause of road mishaps.

Be a responsible driver at all times. It's not having the driver's license to boast of; it's all about taking care of other people's lives when you're on the road. DRIVE SAFELY, please.