I decided I would not like to drive in the Philippines when I first visited over 30 years ago, and traffic now is a lot worse. In all my visits I’ve been quite happy to let someone else drive, whether it’s a taxi, van, bus, jeepney or tricycle. It’s always a relief to arrive at my destination !
According to the World Health Organization ( WHO ), road traffic accidents ( RTA’s ) kill more people around the world than malaria, especially young people in so-called developing countries.
It’s difficult to obtain accurate figures for the Philippines – WHO claimed over 8,000 fatal RTA’s ( 11/100,000 or 2% of deaths ) in 2011. Almost half of registered vehicles in the Philippines are motor cycles, and this is reflected in the accident rates – especially in young people.
India has the highest absolute number of recorded fatal RTA’s. In the UK there were under 2000 deaths from RTA’s ( 0.5% ) in the same year.
Of course, there are far more non-fatal serious or slight injuries on the roads. There are other consequences, which are causing serious concern – especially, as I observed last month, in Metro Manila and Cebu City.
The spectre of wasted time, fuel, and frayed tempers repeats itself on the roads of Metro Manila every single workday – not to mention “ off peak “ times and long term health consequences.
While I was in the Philippines, I became aware of various suggestions - by filipinos - for practical solutions :-
• Clean up illegal parking. Vehicles park along major roads like Katipunan Avenue with impunity. There should be zero tolerance and high fines for parking on such roads.
• Discipline buses and jeepneys. Jeepneys stop for passengers anywhere they wish. Many may congregate on areas such as U-turn slots ( Marcos Highway in front of Robinsons East ). Also on the Marcos Highway, jeepneys accumulate in front of the MRT station and commuters queue on the highway itself.
• Re-evaluate the U-turn schemes. They need to be properly designed and the road suitably widened. During peak volume hours, some U-turns might be closed.
• Rationalise the bus scheme. Remove buses from EDSA. With the MRT in operation, there is no need for 4000 buses on this road. Relocate provincial bus terminals to the northern and southern ends of the city. Implement bus routes with proper stops. One or two bus companies to run the entire network.
• Strict inspection of motor vehicles. Ancient trucks carrying 25 tons of cargo are a recipe for disaster, as are failed brakes and broken steering.
• Enforce restriction of vehicle use by numberplate.
• Enforce driving test. Zero tolerance of drink driving, or use of cell phones while driving. Enforce use of seatbelts.
• Consider selective closure of highways such as EDSA one day ( Sunday ) each week. Over 2 million vehicles are said to pass through EDSA daily, making it the busiest – and most polluting - highway in the country.
• Increase the minimal amount of cycle lanes already in existence.
Of course there may be other solutions to at least alleviate the problem. The option of doing nothing will inevitably lead to more frustration, wastage of time, pollution with its health consequences, minor / serious accidents and deaths.
• Jeepney in Makati Avenue
• Waiting for passengers
• Jeepney in Pateros
• Late evening in Makati Avenue before reduced traffic
• Smog from dawn – over Mandaluyong City
