MMDA: 1 fatal road mishap per day in 2013

MANILA, Philippines - There was at least one fatal road accident in Metro Manila per day in 2013, according to figures released by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday.

The agency said while it recorded an average fatal accident rate of 1.13 per day in the metropolis, May 2013 had the most number of fatal road accidents at 41 while the least number of fatal road accidents – 23 – was recorded in October.

The agency did not release fatal accident rate figures for this year or for previous years.

There were 141 fatal road accidents in Quezon City in 2013, the highest among local government units, while no fatal road accidents were reported in Pateros, Metro Manila’s last remaining municipality.

The number of fatal road accidents per city in 2013 were as follows: Manila, 56; Caloocan, 37; Parañaque and Taguig, 25; Makati, 23; Valenzuela, 18; Marikina, 17; Pasay, 15; Muntinlupa and Pasig, 13; Las Piñas, 9; Mandaluyong, 8; Malabon, 4; Navotas, 6; and San Juan, 1.

1,458 accidents last month

The MMDA recorded a total of 1,458 road accidents last month, with 553 incidents reported along EDSA alone.

According to the MMDA, 158 road accidents were also reported along C5 Road, 77 on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City and 670 on other major streets and roads of Metro Manila.

A total of 2,876 vehicles also figured in road accidents in Metro Manila last month, with private sedans figuring in the most number of accidents at 800.

There were only 297 buses that figured in accidents last year as compared to 257 taxis, 251 sport utility vehicles, 196 Asian utility vehicles, 280 vans, 271 trucks and 149 passenger jeepneys.

From Oct. 1 to 14, the MMDA recorded 664 vehicular accidents across Metro Manila with 240 accidents on EDSA, 71 on C5 Road, 37 on Commonwealth Avenue and 37 on other major roads and streets in Metro Manila. 

The MMDA recorded a total of 1,297 vehicles involved in road accidents during this period. Of this number, 387 are private sedans, 130 are buses, 116 taxis, 114 sport utility vehicles, 110 Asian utility vehicles, 91 vans, 115 trucks and 55 passenger jeepneys.

Recognizing that vehicular accidents can trigger massive traffic jams, the MMDA on Friday launched an android application, MMDA Accident Alerts, to give real-time updates on road accidents along Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares.

“Motorists and even commuters will now be informed of all vehicular accidents along the major roads through this application.  As such, they can plan their travel accordingly and avoid routes where accidents occur,” MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said.

Users of the MMDA Accident Alerts app can view road accidents both in street and map views as well as a list and history of road accidents.

The areas covered by the app will be based on the MMDA Traffic Navigator set-up and will be updated hourly, Tolentino said.       

Some of the areas covered by the application, Tolentino said are: EDSA, C-5 Road, South Luzon Expressway, Roxas Boulevard, Quezon Avenue, España Avenue, Ortigas Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue and Marcos Highway.