The Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association (MDPPA) has vowed to push harder for its road safety campaign after both local and international motoring bodies discovered that drunk-driving is still one of the main causes of vehicular accidents in the Philippines.
The 2015 World Health Organization Global Report on Road Safety details how two- and three-wheeled vehicles are responsible for 53-percent of Philippine road deaths from 2004 to 2013. More than a thousand of these fatalities were said to have been caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol.
Backing up this statistic is the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority incident report from the first half of 2015. It also revealed that majority of those involved in accidents were aboard motorcycles, specifically, a total of 11,721 motorcycle-related mishaps during the said period. Additionally, the 2014 Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System Traffic Accident Report showed that among the 90,258 recorded road crash incidents, 418 resulted in loss of life, 16,665 resulted in injuries, and 73,175 resulted in property damage. Human errors such as drunk driving, inattentiveness, and drowsiness, were the main culprit for these collisions.
To spread awareness on the dangers of drunk driving, MDPPA held a series of seminars on road safety precautions. “While it is difficult to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages, it should not be an excuse to drive intoxicated. Remember to appoint the sober one as the designated driver, or not to drink if you know you’re driving. This holds true whether you are driving a motorcycle, or any other type of vehicle,” MDPPA president Rodel Pablo shared.
The organization reminded motorists to adhere to traffic rules and regulations, subject their vehicles to regular inspection, as well as to avoid alcohol when they are going to be behind the wheel. “Check if all the parts of your motorcycle or vehicles are functioning properly. It is also best to use genuine parts so as not to compromise on quality,” Pablo added.