Road Accidents

The news outlets regularly publish stories of road accidents so I thought I would take a look at a few and see if any sort of pattern emerges. Filipino drivers are among the worst in the world which makes accidents inevitable.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1066358/nine-hurt-in-quezon-bypass-road-mishap

A report from Candelaria police station said a sedan being driven by Frederick Fang was negotiating the bypass road in Barangay (village) Masin Sur around 1 p.m. Tuesday when an incoming sports utility vehicle (SUV) being driven by Alfredo Morano Jr. bumped into it. 

Police said the northbound SUV overtook another vehicle and occupied the opposite lane when it collided head-on against the incoming car. 

Due to the strong impact, the car spun while the SUV fell on the rice field on the side of the road.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1067203/2-killed-2-hurt-in-pangasinan-road-accidents

Two motorcycle riders were killed while two others were injured on Thursday in separate road accidents in Pangasinan province, police said on Friday. 

Robin Malacad, 18, died while being taken to a hospital after his motorcycle crashed into a tricycle at 7:10 p.m. along the Manila North Road (MNR) in Barangay Cablong in Pozorrubio town. 

Police said Malacad was traversing the southbound lane when the tricycle suddenly entered the road from a gasoline station. Malacad reportedly tried but failed to avoid the tricycle. 

Earlier in Bani town, Liezel Mamaril, 21, was killed after she was thrown off a motorcycle that crashed into a passenger bus along the highway in Barangay Garrita at 5:40 p.m. 

Motorcycle driver Perfien Farnacio, 22, may not have noticed the bus when he took a left turn and slammed right into the middle of the bus.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1068602/3-die-8-hurt-in-batangas-road-accidents

In Taal town, a four-vehicle collision happened around 8:30 p.m. Monday along the diversion road in Barangay Latag. 

In San Juan, two motorcycles collided head on in Barangay Maraykit around 1 a.m.  Tuesday.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1068843/2-dead-5-hurt-in-separate-quezon-road-accidents

A report from the Quezon police said Ramil Atienza, 26, was accidentally hit by a still unidentified bus while standing along the side of the Maharlika Highway in Barangay (village) Sto. Cristo in Sariaya town around 7:55 p.m. 

Atienza died while being taken to Sariaya Greg Hospital. 

Police added that Atienza could have also been possibly run over by a passing sports utility vehicle after he was hit by the bus. 

Meanwhile in the island town of Alabat, two motorcycles collided head-on while cruising along the Alabat-Quezon road at around 4 a.m.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1069494/batangas-road-accident-3-die-11-hurt

A report from Calabarzon police indicated the incident happened around 3 a.m., involving a car driven by Kelly Villanueva and a tricycle driven by a certain Levy Gamil. 

Police said the tricycle was heading towards Barangay Hugom when it was hit by the car.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1071096/van-plows-into-tricycles-in-isabela-province-2-dead-4-hurt

Two tricycle drivers died, and four were hurt in a road accident about 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday (January 9) in Barangay (village) San Pedro-San Pablo, police said. 

Tricycle drivers Danilo Ancheta and Manny Balaba were killed when a van driven by Gregorio Tolentino, 54, of San Luis town in Pampanga province, plowed into their respective vehicles. 

Rolly Wania, who was sitting behind Balaba on the tricycle, was seriously hurt in the crash. 

Tolentino fell asleep on the wheel as he drove south, causing the van to swerve and plow into the two parked tricycles.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1073382/3-dead-9-hurt-as-driver-falls-asleep-hits-2-vehicles-in-north-cotabato

Three persons were killed while 9 others were hurt in a three-vehicle smash-up when one of the drivers fell asleep at the wheel along the national highway here Monday afternoon. 

“The Toyota Hi-Lux driver falls asleep at the wheel,” said Police Chief Inspector Bryan Placer, Matalam town police chief, referring to Ridznul Tandih, 34, who was driving the Toyota Hi-Lux from Zamboanga heading to Davao, when it crashed into a tricycle and a Kia Bongo from Matalam heading to Kabacan town at 1:45 p.m. in Barangay Kilada, Matalam. 

Placer said the Toyota Hi-Lux first hit the tricycle and then the Kia Bongo double cab vehicle. Both four-wheeled vehicles sit on their sides beside the highway following the accident. 

Placer said Tandih and his companions left Zamboanga at 1:30 a.m. bound for Davao City.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1073679/2-slain-2-hurt-in-pangasinan-road-accidents

Police identified the fatalities in the Asingan road accident as Czarino Manibog, 25, and his back rider Jemray Castillo, 22. 

Czarino and Castillo were on board a motorcycle when they collided with a pickup driven by John Mark Calrion, 24. Calrion was also injured in the accident and was treated in a hospital. 

In Sual, two motorcycles collided head-on along the national road in Caoayan village at 5:30 p.m. injuring the riders identified as Ralph Alvarez, 23, and Jovell Castro, 27. 

Police said both were driving at a high speed but Castro was believed to be drunk.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1075216/9-injured-as-van-hits-tree-in-bohol

Nine passengers were injured in a crash when the van they were riding skidded and hit a tree in Garcia Hernandez town in Bohol province on Sunday morning. 

Those hurt, including an Australian, were brought to hospitals in Jagna town and Tagbilaran City, according to PO3 Elvan Cadiz of the Garcia Hernandez Municipal Police Station. 

Kenneth Centorias, 23-year-old driver of the van-for-hire, was detained at the police station pending the filing of a complaint of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple physical injuries. 

The van was heading for Tagbilaran from Jagna town past 11 a.m. when it had an accident. 

When it reached the national highway in Barangay West Canayaon in Garcia Hernandez town, the driver lost control of the vehicle, which skidded off and hit a gmelina tree. 

Centorias told police that he was not able to step on the brakes on time because of the slippery road due to rains.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1079796/4-die-as-bus-slams-into-rear-of-truck-on-sctex

Authorities said the bus, which was carrying mostly government employees from Cavite, slammed into the rear of the cargo truck at about 5:20 a.m.

That is 10 articles and 12 accidents. Two of these accidents took place during the day and the rest happened at dusk, early evening, and early in the morning when still dark. Four involved tricycles and two were the result of drivers falling asleep at the wheel.  One unfortunate casualty was standing on the side of the highway when he was hit by a bus and then run over by a passing SUV. Another accident was the result of one vehicle attempting to pass another which resulted in a head-on collision. Eight of these accidents involved motorcycles and three of those accidents were head-on collisions! Two of those collisions occurred at 1:30 am and 4:30 am respectively.

What can we learn here? What are the patterns if any?

The fact that the majority of these accidents take place at night coupled with my experiences of driving at night leads me to believe that some of these drivers were not using headlights. Especially the motorcycles colliding head-on in the early morning leads me to suspect they were not using lights. Too many motorcycles do not use lights at night. The same goes for tricycles. It is always a shock to be driving along and then suddenly see the shadow of a lightless pedicab or tricycle.

Two of these accidents involve drivers falling asleep. How many truckers are on the road half asleep? The case of the guy walking along the highway is not surprising at all. The lack of sidewalks or any kind of pedestrian path alongside roads is trouble waiting to happen. It is a common sight to see people walking along highways.

What can be done about this? According to authorities. Nothing. Nothing can be done because they have don't everything they can and they are having a "hard time" figuring out a solution.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/200170-ph-difficulty-road-crash-deaths-cesar-sarmiento

The Philippines is having a "hard time" reducing deaths from road crashes despite efforts to curb casualties, a Philippine lawmaker told the United Nations General Assembly (GA) during the second regular session of its 82nd plenary meeting in New York on Friday, April 13 (Manila time). 

Despite the action plan and policies passed, road crash fatalities continued to climb over the years. In 2015, a total of 10,012 people died due to road mishaps across the country. 

Sarmiento added that intensifying law enforcement will "help instill discipline and deter unsafe driving behavior." Awareness through social marketing will also prioritize road safety on a daily basis, he said.

The last part about intensifying law enforcement is the key here.  From R.A. 6975 which set up the PNP and lays out their duties we read:

Sec. 35 (B) (8) Traffic Management Unit. – Headed by a Director with the rank of chief superintendent, the Traffic Management Unit shall enforce traffic laws and regulations.

https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1990/ra_6975_1990.html

It's rather obvious the lack of any law enforcement patrolling the roads and enforcing the law is to blame for many of these accidents. Pull over all vehicles not using lights and fine them. If they don't have working lights then impound the vehicle. Enforce helmet laws. Pull over speeding and reckless drivers. That's really what it will take. Not social programs or action plans. Not good wishes or goodwill. Just plain good old fashioned enforcing the law.

Don't Play in the Road

This story is incredible. Just read it.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/11/07/dont-dry-palay-on-national-roads-dpwh-reminds-farmers/

“Drying of palay and other farm produce along national highways is totally banned in order to safeguard the motorists from any untoward incident,” the agency said. 

The directive, according to the DPWH, is pursuant to DPWH Department Order No.41, series of 2013 and DPWH Department Order No. 52, series of 2003, and pursuant to provisions of Section 23 of Presidential Decree No. 17, stating that “It shall be unlawful for any person to usurp any portion of a right-of-way, to convert any part of any public highways, bridge, wharf or trail to his own private use or to obstruct in the same in any manner.” 

Violation of the law is punishable by a fine of not more than P1,000 or by imprisonment not exceeding to six months. 

Based on the department order issued in February 2003, the private use of even the sidewalk, gutter and curb, or any other portions of the road covered by the right-of-way is prohibited. 

Private-owned structures installed on the road right-of-way are also banned. This is usually the case on the national roads in the metropolis. 

According to the same department order, all kinds of private temporary and permanent structures such as buildings, houses, shanties, stores, shops, stalls, posts, canopies, billboards, signages, advertisements, fences, walls, railings, basketball courts, and garbage receptacles. 

Plants and plant boxes are also prohibited along the national roads. It is also not allowed to use any part of the national road as a storage area for construction materials. Using it as a parking lot and for repair shops are banned.

I don't live near any national highways. Just normal roads which are always busy and are always cluttered.

Cluttered with electrical poles and parked cars and food stalls and grills and repair shops and restaurants and basketball courts. Cluttered so much that traffic gets stuck and slowed down. Even houses and shanties are right on the edge of the road. There is literally no space between the road and many shanties.  It is surprising that people don't regularly get mowed down or their shanties plowed into.

What little sidewalk there is is often cluttered as well with stalls and restaurants and repair shops and all kinds of junk that should not be there. 

But no one gets fined. Some of the restaurants I see have been there for years and no one gives a hoot.

Just imagine having to warn the people and make a national law to not obstruct sidewalks or play in the road! Does that sound like a law for adults or for children?

Old Man Deliberately Run Over by SUV

This video is from the Manila Bulletin's Facebook page and I am uploading it for a wider circulation. The video is described as:

CCTV footage shows an old man getting hit by an SUV at M. Lozada St. cor Dalia St. Sto Rosario Pateros (Sto. Rosario Subdivision). Onlookers left the body of the old man on the road. (Video courtesy: Steve Armstrong)

The video is absolutely strange. An old man is standing in the middle of the road with his hand on his chest and head drooped over like he is either asleep or having a heart attack. When a vehicle approaches he barely shuffles off to the side as if he is hardly aware of what is happening. Then the SUV pushes him, knocks him down, and runs right over him without hesitation.  The old man drops like a sack as if he is not even in his body and does not even offer a struggle against the force overtaking him.

And then what happens?  Everyone congregates around the body to stare and then they just walk away. No one even bothers to put up a barrier to protect the body. No one attempts to move the body (which they should not have done anyway). Do they call for help? If they did no one bothers to protects the man's body until help arrives and another car drives right past it as if it is a sack of garbage.

Ladies and gentlemen this is life in the Philippines. 

Source page is here: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin/videos/328849257673907/

Tricycle and SUV Accident

Came across an accident a when back.

It's an SUV and a tricycle. It appears no one is hurt. The SUV is blocking that turn however causing an inconvenience for drivers and slowing down traffic.

A close up shows the driver of the SUV holding a piece of framing from his vehicle. Again clearly no one is hurt. 

Now the cops are taking pictures of the accident scene. But why from so far away? I didn't see him taking any pics up close. He might have but not while I was observing. Maybe he has the lens zoomed in.

At this point the cops are handing out paperwork. The tricycle driver is holding a piece of paper which is probably an incident report or a summons. At this point the rain starts and the cops and the drivers all walk across the street to where there is an overhang. The vehicles remain blocking the intersection.

Why? Why if no one is hurt, if the damage is light, if pictures of the scene have been taken, why are these vehicles still there blocking the road? Both vehicles could easily pull forward and clear the lane.

Finally we get a close-up of the damage.  It looks like the tricycle scraped the SUV as there is a streak of blue paint among other scrapes. There is no indentation as if the SUV hit the tricycle. Being in a hurry to get out of the rain and the road I only took one picture of the tricycle which happens to not be the side which struck the SUV. From this angle anyway the tricycle looks fine but no conclusions can be drawn from it.

What happened and who is at fault I can only speculate. The tricycle likely turned at the intersection and hit the SUV either not seeing it or not caring that it was there and thinking it would stop. Tricycle drivers are a dangerous lot. They are slow and execute illegal turns all day.

The vehicle in the road is nothing new either. It's rude of course but that is the Philippines. Some repair shops don't even have have garages choosing instead to operate right in the street thus reducing a two lane road to one lane! When a jeepney breaks down the driver never moves it. Instead he pulls out the long seat from the back and hangs it out the rear door like a tongue, sets up a triangle, and then wanders off to wait for assistance. And when it comes they still won't move the jeepney. They will fix it right there in the middle of the street. Just more traffic hazards slowing everyone down. Thanks!

Horrible Tricycle Accident

I doubt even a helmet could have saved this man. Footage is not mine. Spliced together from videos sent to me through Facebook.

Pinoy Bad Driving Habits In Just One Picture

If the bad driving habits of Filipinos could be summarised with just one picture what would it look like? How it possible to capture something so abstract? Maybe it would be the aftermath of a horrible accident? 

I don't know what the ultimate summation of Pinoy bad driving would look like but perhaps it would be this.

This idiot is turning right from the left lane! Just as the light changed to green he sped up to make a dangerous and illegal turn. 

Not the first time I have seen this manoeuvre and certainly won't be the last!

That's Not A Parking Spot!

Two idiots downtown thought it would be a good idea to park in spots that are clearly not for parking!

Look at that! They are clearly in the road! Why haven't these cars been towed?

See how they are off the curb and in the street?  See how the only thing blocking them from being hit is the SUV that is parked against the curb? See for yourself in this video.

It's stupidity like this that makes traffic slow to a crawl.

Things Filipinos Don't Understand

STAYING IN YOUR OWN LANE!!!!!!!

Just about all traffic problems could be solved if drivers weren't in a mad rush trying to sneak in front of everyone else.  STAY IN YOUR LANE!!!

Jeepney Repair in the Middle of the Road

In the Philippines when your vehicle breaks down in the middle of the street it is best to fix it right then and there without moving it out of the way. After all it's only a small thing. A problem quickly fixed.  You won't be long.  

I wonder what the trouble is. Maybe it's not too serious. Just a little overheating or something. Or perhaps a loose fan belt.

What do you think that guy on the motorcycle is doing? Looks like he and the jeepney driver are talking. Is he offering to help push the jeepney out of the road?  Just to the left and out of the camera frame is a gas station.  They could push it there and then proceed with the repair.

Well it's been two hours and the front wheel is off which means this guy is going to be tying up traffic for a long time. But it's not a problem because fixing his vehicle is way more important than worrying about a little thing like blocking the intersection.

How many times have you seen a jeepney just like that, with the wheel off and the seat acting like a warning barrier, parked in the middle of a busy street causing traffic to slow down and back up all because the driver is too inconsiderate to push his broken vehicle out of the street? I have seen this scenario too many times for it to not be a cultural thing.

Once More Into the Ditch

It's not just the congested traffic and unruly drivers which makes driving in the Philippines scary. It's also the many unprotected deep excavations and other road constructions scattered all about. I wrote about this a few months back.

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2017/10/highway-to-danger-zone.html

Look at this deep pit with nary a barrier except flimsy caution tape.

Fear of falling into these crevices is palpable when driving in the crowded traffic alongside the edge. I have yet to experience such a fall but one man has and he did not escape death.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2018/02/06/man-bike-falls-dpwh-drain-project-dies-587498

What a senseless and preventable tragedy.

In a separate interview, District Engineer Leslie Anthony Molina told reporters that since December last year, he has reminded the contractor to put up protective barriers or caution lines to prevent accidents in that area. 

“We advised them to acquire steel plates to cover the excavated manholes but the contractor said they were apprehensive of acquiring them as these might get stolen,” Molina said. 

When I read that I burst out in laughter.  What a joke!  I have heard excuses like this plenty of times. I ask why we can't get a doorbell and I am told because the children will play pranks. I ask why don't the cops just arrest those children since they found them drinking and playing with guns and I am told because they will just say the cops planted the weapons. It's always a ridiculous case scenario with no thought for safety or convenience or rule of law because the first thought is always: It might get stolen or someone might lie about it or something might go wrong.

I wonder is that why these construction workers so often have no boots but only sandals? They think their boots might get stolen?

This deep hole did not even have a flimsy caution tape! There was absolutely nothing to prevent this accident which means it's a miracle this guy is the only one to fall in and die.

But it gets even worse.

Despite the accident, Molina said that DPWH can’t sanction the contractor, who is obligated to finish the project as part of their contract. He, however, advised the contractor to assist Delos Reyes’ family with their needs, including burial assistance. 

Can't sanction them? Why not? This company should be sanctioned out of existence. Huge fines should be levied for each day there was no barrier and they should be criminally charged with negligence leading to death. The lawyers for Cebu should find a way for the city to get out of the contract so a responsible company can be employed. If this were not the Philippines this business would be sued to the last dime by the family but this is the Philippines and the family is lucky that the company has agreed to pay funeral expenses. Of course if this were not the Philippines this outrageous tragedy would never have happened because proper safety precautions would have been followed.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2018/02/06/dad-wont-file-charges-vs-contractor-587567

Alejo delos Reyes Jr., father of Norman, said there was no need for them to file charges against AR Adlawan Construction, as the company already committed to shoulder the funeral expenses of his son.

What this family needs is a bright lawyer who is willing to assist them free of charge or for a percentage of the inevitably enormous sum this company would be forced to pay in a wrongful death suit.

Stay safe out there on the roads!

Driving Dangerously

Driving during the day in the Philippines is tough enough. Driving at night is a nightmare! Too many vehicles do not use headlights or taillights. Some vehicles think they are using their headlights but are really driving with their parking lights on or with flashing multicoloured tube lights which they think is an appropriate substitute for headlights. The result is that drivers cannot see oncoming vehicles or vehicles they are approaching until it it's too late. 

For two nights I stood out on the corner recording the mess on the highway. It seems the most common infraction is motorcycles with no taillights. Some may think this is no big deal but they are wrong. If an oncoming vehicle cannot see you then you are putting your life at risk. How many times have I seen a motorcycle using a flashing turn signal as a a headlight!? Are lightbulbs so expensive as to be unaffordable or are these people just lazy? 

The footage I recorded is not so great. It's difficult to record at night without making everything blurry and bright. I was planning on recording for a week but I realised that it would mostly be all the same kind of thing, motorcycles with no taillights, which is boring, and I wanted to speed up the film and set it to Yakety Sax. If I had more footage to speed up it would have become unwatchable. 

Enjoy!

Motorcycle Crash

Motorcycle crash!

What happened?  I don't know!  I can make an educated guess:

Motorcyclist with no lights on attempts u-turn and gets rammed by van who could not see him.  

These pictures anger me more than anything else. Such an accident is totally preventable. They weren't even wearing helmets. The passenger was alive but I don't know about the driver. I would be surprised if he made it seeing as he is stuffed under the van.

This is why PNP must patrol the roads and enforce safety laws. If they did this then people wouldn't ride around with no lights or no helmets. After passing this disaster scene I saw many more motorcycles and jeepnies and cars with no lights. 

Dying or being horribly injured while driving in the Philippines is a (preventable) tragedy waiting to happen.