THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) is implementing various programs under the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan that actively promote road safety to achieve the goal of reducing road accident deaths in the Philippines to 35% by 2028.
During the Asia Pacific Road Safety Observatory 2023 Annual Meeting on Tuesday at Asian Development Bank (ADB) Headquarters, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista cited the ambitious targets – endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly – to reduce by 50% the number of deaths and injuries by 2030.
The Philippines’ prevention approach to road safety aims to realistically reduce the figure to 35% in the next five years, he said.
“Included in the plan is the goal of reducing road accident deaths in our country by at least 35% by year 2028. One strategy is road safety education,” Sec. Bautista’s said in a speech delivered by DOTr Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Timothy John Batan.
Sec. Bautista said the prevention strategy on road safety includes the stringent and extensive requirements in the issuance of driver’s license and vehicle plate as well as ensuring the roadworthiness of motor vehicle and enforcement of traffic laws by the Land Transportation Office – Philippines (LTO).
The transport chief also cited other road safety projects such as the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), EDSA Busway, EDSA Greenways, and Active Transport to help create awareness on road safety.
“Our holistic and long-term focus targets the drivers, pedestrians, vehicles and roads. What’s remaining is sustaining the implementation of these strategies,” said Bautista.
In recognizing road crashes as a human-made health crisis, the Asia-Pacific Road Safety Observatory and Global Road Safety Partnership stress the importance of uniting governments, development agencies, businesses and civil society organizations to address the pernicious effects of road crashes.
According to data, nearly 1.3 million lives are lost and an estimated 50 million injuries occur each year due to road crashes; road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29 years, and more than half of all road traffic deaths are among vulnerable road users, namely, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
Meanwhile, 93% of the world’s fatalities on the roads occur in low and middle income countries; road traffic crashes cost most countries 3% of their gross domestic product; between 20 and 50 million people suffer non-fatal injuries, and road traffic injuries cause considerable economic losses to individuals, their families, and to nations as a whole.
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