ON SUNDAY night, Feb. 27, in Barangay Dongsol, Pototan, Iloilo two motorcycles collided. One man died while another was injured. A few days before that, a jail officer got injured. His motorcycle crashed into a delivery van in Barangay Sigangao, Zarraga, Iloilo.
Actually, we have lost count of the many road mishaps involving motorcycles not only in Iloilo but elsewhere in Western Visayas.
Yes, we do recognize the big contribution of motorcycles in easing the traffic problem. But motorcycle riders have constantly been the top victims of road crash injuries and deaths since 2010.
In its Global Status Report on Road Safety some seven years ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) already said 53 percent of reported road traffic fatalities in the Philippines were riders of motorized two- or three-wheeler vehicles. Pedestrians made up the second biggest chunk of road user deaths at 19 percent, followed by drivers of four-wheeled vehicles at 14 percent and their passengers at 11 percent.
Data from the of Department of Health (DOH), on the other hand, showed that 65 percent or 19,852 out of 30,412 recorded injuries and fatalities due to road accidents in 2015 involved people riding on motorcycles.
DOH also noted a drastic increase on motorcycle riders being involved in road crash injuries since 2010, from 6,244 injuries to 19,852 injuries in 2015.
These figures are upsetting. Clearly, the number of road mishaps is increasing due mainly to reckless motorcycle riders. We are deeply concerned. Reckless motorcyclists turn public roads into racetracks and in the process endanger not just themselves but other road users as well, including pedestrians.
With the grim statistics from WHO and DOH, there is a need for the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group to launch a campaign against reckless motorcycle riders. It could start by assigning policemen along highways, which are being used as regular routes for motorcycle riders especially during weekends.
Enough of motorcycle riders’ reckless disregard for safety that does not just endanger them but other motorists and non-motorists as well.
