Road accidents are a significant public health concern worldwide, claiming millions of lives and causing injuries every year.
Data reported that from January to July of 2023, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recorded over 44,000 vehicular accidents that occurred in Metro Manila.
More than 32,000 of those accidents resulted in damage to property, tallying 11,525 non-fatal injuries and 168 fatal injuries.
Understanding the common causes of these accidents is crucial in developing effective strategies to prevent them.
In this article, we will explore some of the primary causes of road accidents based on data from the MMDA and the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), and provide practical tips to avoid them.
1.Loss of Control
The most common reason for losing control of an automobile is a tire issue. Either the tire blows out or it starts to lose grip. Road slick conditions can also cause skidding, which unintentionally causes collisions.
Tips to Avoid Loss of Control:
Check the tire pressure before you get on the road. Adjust the pressure if there’s a problem. When necessary, replace the tires. You need new ones if you have been using them for longer than three or six years, depending on your car.
Examine the wheel’s mechanisms while you’re at it. Rainy seasons make road conditions slippery. Try to wait for the roads to dry out and the rain to stop. If you must go right away, however, pick an avenue with less dangerous driving conditions.
2.Drunk Driving
One of the main factors contributing to traffic accidents is drunk driving. Anyone under the influence of alcohol is not fit to drive since it impairs motor abilities, delays reflexes, and diminishes reasoning.
Tips to Avoid Drunk Driving:
Put a designated driver in the driver’s seat. Use a TNVS (such as a Grab or JoyRide car) or hail a cab. Despite the cost, it is worthwhile to arrive home safely.
Don’t reserve a motorbike taxi. Some motorcycle-based TNVS companies forbid drunk riding.
Ask your friend whether you can crash in their living room if you’re at their place.
Don’t bring your car if you know you’ll be drinking booze. The wisest course of action would be to forgo alcohol entirely for the evening. Get a mocktail if you still want to mingle.
3.Mechanical Failure
Tires that are too old or underinflated, problems with the suspension and steering system, malfunctioning headlights or taillights, engine and gearbox issues, and broken windshield wipers are common mechanical faults that cause traffic accidents.
Tips to Avoid Mechanical Failure:
Prior to lengthy journeys, make it a point to check BLOWBAGETS (battery, lights, oil, water, brake, air, gas, engine, tires, and self) for any technical defects.
Take your car to a repair as soon as you hear odd noises, such clunking and grinding. Don’t neglect the recommended preventive maintenance.
4.Brake Failure
Another mechanical issue that frequently causes traffic accidents is brake failure. Brake failures can be caused by a variety of factors. One possibility is that the brakes have become brittle or hard. It becomes challenging to stop the car as a result of their inability to adequately grasp the wheel rotor disk.
Tips to Avoid Brake Failure:
To find early warning indicators of failure, such as overheating and brake fluid leakage, conduct routine examinations on your braking system.
Avoid packing your automobile full. Your car’s brakes and other mechanical components will have to work harder if it is heavy and packed.
Follow the posted speed limit. By keeping your speed appropriate, you’ll be able to apply the brakes promptly and avoid collisions.
5.Overspeeding
When a driver speeds, they can damage pedestrians, other drivers, and occasionally even their own passengers.
Driving too quickly impairs your control over the vehicle, making twists and curves more challenging to handle. There won’t be enough time for you to escape a crash.
Speed has a high impact, thus the consequences of exceeding the speed limit could be worse than regular traffic incidents.
Tips to Avoid Overspeeding:
If your vehicle has cruise control, make advantage of it. You won’t have to step on the gas in this manner.
Don’t drive after intoxication. DUI drivers frequently drive too fast. Even worse, their impaired reflexes make it difficult for them to respond quickly enough to avoid traffic hazards.
Get out of the house early. You won’t have to drive quickly to prevent being late when you have adequate time.
Overspeeding can be caused by stress, rage, and other comparable negative emotions. Gain emotional self-control.
6.Use of Gadgets while Driving
While it’s common knowledge that drivers should maintain their focus on the road, multitasking while driving can provide difficulties for people who need to check their social media accounts or make calls or texts while operating a vehicle. Their response time is impacted as a result.
Tips to Avoid Driving While Using Gadgets:
Before you drive, turn on the Do Not Disturb feature on your phone. In this manner, the sound of the notifications won’t divert your attention. The Airplane mode would be an alternative.
Choose your playlist before you leave the house if you like to listen to music while driving. You won’t have to look for your favorite tunes to listen to while driving.
Use hands-free apps, such as AndroidAuto or Apple CarPlay. Give Siri or Google Assistant the responsibility of handling texting, driving, and playing music.
7.Bad Turning
Bad turns are frequently mentioned by authorities as one of the main reasons for auto accidents. This is a poor driving habit where you change directions without using your signal lights.
Not only is it unsafe to turn without signaling, but it also demonstrates a lack of regard for other drivers. Any motorist knows that changing direction and speed quickly is never simple.
Tips to Avoid Bad Turning:
To simply indicate your destination to other drivers, utilize your signal lights.
Before turning, be sure you’re in the right lane. Even better, go to the correct lane as soon as possible to avoid having to do so at the last minute.
Make sure your automobile is far enough away from the vehicles in back of you before making a turn or changing lanes.
8.Bad Overtaking
When a driver passes another car, they are overtaking. It leads to accidents when the erring driver suddenly shifts lanes without examining the rear-view or side mirror.
Another common scenario in which a collision occurs is when the other driver misjudges the speed and distance of an approaching car from a different lane.
Tips to Avoid Bad Overtaking:
If you notice that the car behind you is attempting to pass, keep driving at your current speed. Please allow the car in front of you to pass.
If you cannot see the road ahead, do not try to overtake another vehicle. It can be that you’re about to make a sudden turn.
Verify the road’s markers. If there are two solid lines on the road, it indicates that overtaking is prohibited. Keep an eye out for signs on the road warning you not to pass too closely.
Take particular caution when passing big vehicles, such as trucks. It is more difficult for them to notice your car because they have larger blind zones.
9.Jaywalking
Road accidents can have devastating consequences, but many of them are preventable by addressing their common causes.
It is essential for both drivers and pedestrians to prioritize safety on the road to ensure the well-being of everyone.
As long as a pedestrian is inside a pedestrian lane, cars are required by the Land Transportation and Traffic Code (Republic Act 4136) to allow them to cross the street.
Nevertheless, the issue is that pasaway pedestrians are just as troublesome as kamote drivers. For example, even if the motorist is traveling within posted speed restrictions, they could still catch him off guard.
Tips to Avoid Jaywalking:
To prevent colliding with pedestrians, yield as much space as you can. Rather than taking them to the hospital and footing the price, this is a better option.
Be very mindful of your surroundings when passing through residential neighborhoods and follow the posted speed limit
Road accidents can have devastating consequences, but many of them are preventable by addressing their common causes.
It is essential for both drivers and pedestrians to prioritize safety on the road to ensure the well-being of everyone.