EDSA TRAFFIC. Private vehicles driving along a congested Edsa-Kamuning Road. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Monday said concrete barrier-related accidents have gone down this month and called on motorists to remain vigilant and drive defensively to avoid accidents in Edsa. (file photo)
MANILA – Vehicular accidents related to the concrete barriers along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) are going down this July, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday.
During an online Laging Handa briefing, MMDA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago said from as high as 40 accidents in June, the number has so far decreased to 12 accidents this month.
“[In June] nag-a-average po ng at least one accident a day. Ngayon po, sa buwan ng July, nakapag-tala po ng 12 concrete barrier related accidents (In June, we were having an average of at least one accident per day. This July, we have so far recorded 12 concrete barrier-related accidents),” Pialago said.
While the number of accidents has gone down, she said the most common cause of concrete barrier-related accidents remains to be driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI).
“Kalahati po nito ay nabangga ang concrete barrier dahil po sila ay nakainom (Half of all who had a collision with the concrete barriers were DUI)—under the influence of alcohol,” Pialago said.
The data, she said, was based on the investigation of traffic bureaus under the Philippine National Police (PNP).
To avoid these accidents, she said the MMDA has placed solar-powered warning signs along Edsa aside from ensuring that all concrete barriers are equipped with reflectors for night-time visibility.
“Ang laking tulong po ng mahigit labing-anim na solar-powered early warning signs na inilagay po ng MMDA para ho abisuhan ang mga motorista (The 16 solar-powered early warning signs from the MMDA have been a great help to notify drivers of incoming barriers),” Pialago said.
She said motorists are also constantly reminded of the relocation of the bus lanes in Edsa from the outer lanes to the middle lanes and the presence of concrete barriers, most of which have been recently installed for the Edsa busway.
“Hindi naman po tayo nagkukulang sa paalala na ang ating Edsa busway o ang dating yellow lane natin para sa mga buses ay hindi na nasa kanan yan, nasa kaliwa. At may harang pong concrete barriers (We do not fail to remind motorists of the new Edsa busway or the relocation of the old yellow bus lanes from the outer lanes, to the middle),” Pialago said.
She also called on motorists to drive defensively at all times and refrain from constantly changing lanes and over-speeding to avoid accidents. (PNA)
