The Department of Health (DOH), Department of Transportation (DOTR), and the World Health Organization (WHO) recently released the WHO Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023.
According to the WHO report, the annual number of road traffic deaths fell slightly to 1.19 million per year globally.
“More than 2 deaths occur per minute and over 3,200 per day.”
Yet with more than 2 deaths occurring per minute and over 3,200 per day, road traffic crashes remain the leading cause of mortality among children and youth aged 5–29 years.
Pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users face an acute and rising risk of death.
“The tragic tally of road crash deaths is heading in the right direction, downwards, but nowhere near fast enough. Road safety is a multisectoral concern. We should continue to work together to keep our road safe,” says Dr Rui Paolo de Jesus, WHO Representative in the Philippines.
In the Philippines, an increasing trend of road traffic deaths was seen in the past decade, with road traffic deaths increasing by 39% from 7,938 deaths in 2011 to 11,096 deaths based on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Report in 2021.
“Motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists are among those considered vulnerable road users.”
According to the report, at least 84% of road traffic deaths are among males. Road traffic injuries are also a major cause of mortality among children. Motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists are among those considered vulnerable road users. Road traffic injuries are estimated to cost about 2.6% of the country’s gross domestic product.
“To address road safety, we have developed the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan 2023-2028. This plan, together with the WHO global report on road safety, will guide us in implementing and monitoring efforts to reduce road traffic deaths and serious injuries in the Philippines,” DOTR Secretary Jaime Bautista said.
Road safety is one of the current priorities of the Department of Health.
“Dahil sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Buhay Mahalaga, no one should die or be seriously injured on our roads. Every life is precious. Multisectoral action to prevent deadly trauma brought about by road traffic crashes is needed, as part of the Action Agenda sa pag-iwas sa sakit,” Health Secretary Ted Herbosa stressed.
