'Ang Pinaka' Top 10 Most Common Causes of Road Accidents

Published August 2, 2012 9:30pm

Car collisions and other vehicular accidents always end up in daily newscasts. Some are slight fender-benders, while others claim lives. Road accidents are currently the fourth leading leading cause of death in the Philippines, and according to Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Assistant Secretary Dante Lantin, “might become the main cause of mortality in 2020." To help prevent future accidents by educating viewers, the GMA News TV’s edu-tainment countdown show “Ang Pinaka” listed the top 10 most common causes of road accidents in the Philippines. “Timely ang paggawa natin ng countdown kasi ang daming road accidents everyday. Tama lang na kalabugin ulit ang mga drivers and pedestrians. May mga tao na hindi pa rin aware sa mga signs at warnings,” said "Ang Pinaka" co-host Maey Bautista. The following experts on road safety also joined the "Ang Pinaka" panel for this episode:

Paolo Subido - Associate Editor, Top Gear Magazine
Francis Tolentino - Chairman, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
Dr. Ernie Vera - Medical Officer VII, National Center for Disease Prevention and Control

Read about the most common causes of road accidents and how to avoid them:

# 10 Bad Overtaking

Overtaking is the act of driving around another slower vehicle to get ahead of it. Collisions can occur when drivers miscalculate the distance and speed of oncoming vehicles. Road Safety Tip: Paolo Subido recommends maintaining one’s speed if another car is trying to overtake you on the road. “Don’t speed up, don’t speed down. Because if a car [is trying to overtake] behind you, that means that they are travelling at a faster rate, so it’s really pointless to try to go faster than him. So, let him through.“

# 9 Avoided Hitting Another Vehicle When faced with the threat of impact, a driver usually maneuvers his vehicle away to avoid collision. This happens when a driver is not paying attention to the road, or unable to suddenly stop his car. Road Safety Tip: Subido says that drivers who flout the law only endanger themselves and others. His advice to drivers: “Be law-abiding and don’t be in a hurry in the road.”

# 8 Avoided Hitting a Pedestrian

Dr. Ernie Vera says that for accidents involving pedestrians, both drivers and pedestrians share the blame. “Dito sa atin sa Maynila, may fault ang tsuper, may fault ang pedestrian.” Road Safety Tip: MMDA’s Francis Tolentino says that alertness and quick reflexes are a driver’s best tools in avoiding road accidents: “Dapat mabilis yung reflexes mo. [Dapat] maganda ang preno mo, [at] na-anticipate mo na kahit pusa na tatawid. Ibig sabihin noon, nakapagpahinga ka, kailangan rin ng tamang tulog. Hindi ka puyat. Hindi ka nakainom.”

#7 Mechanical Malfunction

Some road accidents are also caused by an interplay of mechanical defects in the car and poor road conditions such as potholes and slippery road surfaces. Road Safety Tip: Dr. Vera says that vehicle owners are responsible for ensuring their vehicles are road worthy. “May kasamang manual diyan na sinasabing per unit maintenance service. Sundin mo siya. Kapag hindi mo chine-checkupan iyan, hindi mo nakikita yung problema, biglang sumabog yung parte niyan, wala ka nang magagawa.”

#6 Bad Turning

When a driver turns without signalling, other drivers may not be able to adjust their speed and direction quickly enough. “Bigla na lang liliko, hindi nagsi-signal light. Dito sa atin, basta may makitang lusutan, lulusot. [Pag] ganyan, may banggaan,” observes Vera. Road Safety Tip: Subido says that it’s better to be safe than sorry, “Huwag kang mag-cut sa blind corner. Don’t occupy someone else’s lane when you’re in an intersection.”

#5 Lost Brakes

Losing brakes is one of the most common causes of road accidents, and according to “Ang Pinaka” road safety panelists, one of the most overused excuses used by irresponsible drivers. “Malupit na palusot iyan. I think they were (simply) driving too fast to (hit the) breaks,” says Subido. Road Safety Tip: Subido says that brakes should be regulary checked and drivers should drive at reasonable speeds. “Huwag mag-overspeed. ‘Yun ‘yung main thing.”

#4 Inattentively Moving Backwards

Every year, thousands of small children are injured by drivers who don’t look when backing up. Rear view and side mirrors may not show small children or animals near one’s car. Road Safety Tip: “Bago ka umatras, buksan mo na yung bintana mo. Ilabas mo 'yung ulo mo. Tignan mo sandali yung space na papasukan mo,” Tolentino advises drivers.

#3 Lost Control If a driver is speeding, distracted, or driving over slippery roads, he may easily lose control of his car. Road Safety Tip: Vera says drivers should be 100 percent focused on driving: “You should be alert at saka focused. ‘Di dapat distracted o nagce-cellphone. Behavior pa rin, tao pa rin.” Tolentino adds that irresponsible drivers are a danger not only to themselves but to the public. “Bago ka sumakay ng sasakyan alamin mo muna ang kondisyon mo kasi may responsibilidad ka sa lipunan.”

#2 Drunk Driving

Alcohol slows reflexes, impairs reasoning, and affects motor skills—simply put, a person under the influence of alcohol is unfit to drive. Despite this, people still get behind the wheel even after drinking. “Walang nalasing na umaming lasing. So ang laki ng reflex ng nawawala in terms of reaction, alertness, kasi 'yun ang effect ng alcohol.”

Road Safety Tip: The panelists’ reminder is simple and straightforward: “Don’t drink and Drive.” Tolentino is quick to add: “Magpa-drive na sa iba o huwag nang uminom. May breath analyzer kami (sa MMDA).”

#1 Driver Error Between 2010 and 2011, the PNP Highway Patrol recorded around 12,620 road deaths caused by “driver error.” Drivers who are in a hurry, distracted, or sleepy are prone to accidents. The panelists all agreed that the government can lessen accidents by implementing a proper driver’s education program. “The Philippines is a crazy place to drive, so you can already start by educating yourself,” says Subido. Road Safety Tip: Tolentino says before getting behind a wheel one should assess one’s surroundings. "Defensive driving dapat. Anticipate intersections. Anticipate pedestrians. Kung ‘di mo kaya, magpark ka na lang. Huwag ka na lang mag-drive." —Ces Vitan/PF, GMA News "Ang Pinaka" airs Sundays at 6:20 PM on GMA News TV. Follow the program on Facebook and Twitter.

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