More Malfunctioning Brakes!

Last week I wrote an article about malfunctioning brakes being a cause of terrible accidents. In that article I only noted two recent accidents. I also noted that those accidents were not isolated incidents. Here are two more such accidents affirming what I wrote to be true. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/5/7-dead-as-truck-loses-brakes-rams-houses-vehicles-in-cotabato

Police said seven people were killed when a 10-wheel truck loaded with fertilizer rammed vehicles and houses in Barangay Malasila, Makilala, Cotabato, on Thursday morning, Dec. 5. 

Investigation said the truck was on its way to Kidapawan City from Davao City when it lost its brakes and crashed. 

Police added the fatalities died on the spot and two of the victims were the truck driver and a kindergarten pupil. 

Clearing operations are ongoing and police are identifying the victims and determining the cause of the accident. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/12/07/2405559/4-dead-26-injured-after-truck-plows-vehicles

 Four people died and 26 others were injured after a truck plowed into several vehicles on the northbound lane of Katipunan Avenue flyover in Quezon City on Thursday.

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said the fatalities, three men and a woman, died on the spot from severe injuries brought by the multiple vehicular mishap at 6:55 p.m. in Barangay Loyola Heights. Two of the dead have yet to be unidentified.

Initial investigation showed the 10-wheeler wing van truck was heading toward C.P. Garcia Avenue when it hit 16 motorcycles and five four-wheel vehicles during rush hour.

Truck driver Richard Mangupag initially fled from the scene but was arrested by police in a follow-up operation at around 1:30 a.m. yesterday.

Capt. Napoleon Cabigon, QCPD Traffic Sector 3 head, said Mangupag lost control of the truck after the brakes malfunctioned.

“The truck was moving slowly. But the brakes failed so he couldn’t stop,” Cabigon said in an interview over GMA News.

The injured victims, whose ages ranged from 21 to 52 years, were brought to different hospitals by emergency responders for treatment.

Charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, multiple physical injuries and damage to property are being prepared against Mangupag. 

The MMDA says they will be reminding haulers and truckers of road safety following these incidents. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/929387/mmda-to-discuss-road-safety-with-haulers-truckers-after-recent-accidents/story/

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will speak with haulers and truckers to remind them of road safety and curb road accidents following the recent vehicle mishaps in Quezon City and Parañaque City.

Due to the consecutive vehicular accidents, the MMDA will speak with haulers and truckers.

(We will remind them so that their members will be advised to keep their trucks in good condition and discipline their drivers with road safety measures.)

The MMDA will also deploy enforcers to conduct surprise inspections among trucks to ensure road safety amid the Christmas rush.

These were not "accidents." These situations were easily preventable had the trucks undergoing regular inspections. Be safe out there because Philippine roads are deadly.