Another accident at the SRP

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the speed limit being reduced to 30 kilometers per hour from 60 kph, another vehicular accident involving a private vehicle transpired at the South Road Properties yesterday.

Cebu City Traffic Operations Management Operations Chief Joy Tumulak said a south-bound Sedan driven by Bryan Obeso, 25, of Toledo City swerved then hit the center island at SRP’s Mambaling junction at 9:15 in the morning.

Obeso, who lost control of the vehicle after he got distracted by noise coming from his engine, said he was traveling below 40 kph when the incident happened.

Prior to this, a car driven by a 21-year-old man hit a motorcycle Thursday last week, leaving the victim in critical condition and the car smoldering on the road.

Traffic authorities have identified El Pardo Street (going to General Service Office warehouse), the baywalk near the Sugbo Building, the mouth of the viaduct near Ludo & Luym, the Mambaling junction, and the bridge joining Cebu and Talisay cities, of the SRP as accident-prone.

Based on data CITOM submitted to the Office of the Mayor yesterday, 1,617 vehicular accidents occurred at the SRP from 2008 to 2014. Overall, 60,888 vehicular accidents happened in Cebu City from 2008 to 2013.

Of the 1,617 cases, 592 involved motorcycles and caused the death of nine. Of the figure, the highest number of vehicular accidents was recorded in 2013 with 280 cases, followed by 2012 (272), 2011 (256), 2014 (245), 2008 (212), 2010 (199) and 2009 (153).

Concerned, Mayor Michael Rama said “drastic” changes have to be implemented to prevent more accidents from happening at the SRP.

Last week, he ordered the immediate implementation of a 30-kph speed limit and for vehicles to maintain a “two-car distance” from each.

He also requested the Department of Public Works and Highways to install more lampposts to make the SRP well-lighted and to place speed control measures like rumble stripes, reflectorized road markings, and flashing “caution” lights at the south coastal road.

Rama likewise wanted to see warning signs that are “visible and readable” for motorists and pedestrians in different portions of the prime property.

He also told both DPWH and CITOM to deploy additional personnel at the SRP so there is always someone manning traffic 24 hours a day.

These measures, Rama said, are already “long overdue” considering that the safety of motorists and the riding public should have been given priority.

“This (failure to install safety measures) is (the cause of) a continuing level of exasperation (on the side of the city) in view of the absence of sensitivity (by concerned authorities),” he said.

“When it comes to public safety and security, the mayor, in exercise of police power, can (adopt) measures to prevent, regulate and…eliminate possible (accidents),” he added.  (FREEMAN)