MORE people were killed due to vehicular traffic accidents (VTAs) in 2018 along three major thoroughfares in the municipality of Tuba in Benguet.
Tuba Municipal Police Station (MPS) data shows 11 casualties were recorded from vehicular accidents resulting to homicide in Kennon Road, Marcos Highway and Asin Road which is 120 percent higher compared to the same period in 2017 with five casualties.
Kennon Road recorded five deaths in 2018; two in 2017; four in 2016; three in 2015; and two in 2014.
In Marcos Highway, at least four were killed in road crashes last year with three in 2017, one in 2016, two in 2015 and one in 2014 while Asin Road had the road crash deaths with four from 2014 to 2018.
A total of 305 VTAs were recorded from January to December 31, 2018 which is 23.48 percent higher compared to the 247 recorded VTAs from the same period in 2017.
By category, reckless imprudence resulting to damage to property noted 192 cases in 2018, a 34.26 percent increase from 143 in 2017.
At least 102 injuries were involved in VTA, 3.03 percent higher than the 99 recorded in 2017.
Police Regional Office (PRO)-Cordillera regional director Rolando Nana said in lieu of the increase of VTAs, the additional installation of signages along road have been suggested to the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Nana also called on motorists to exercise extra caution in traversing the thoroughfares.
Tuba MPS disclosed human error remains the top cause of road crash with 205, a 26.54 percent increase from the 167 recorded in 2017 followed by mechanical defect, and road condition.
Most vehicles involved in road crash are truck with 71, followed by sports utility vehicles, motorcycles, and passenger vans.
This was followed by wagon with 53 cases in 2018, motorcycles with 49 and vans with 48.
In the recent holiday season, Tuba MPS recorded consecutive VTAs mainly in Barangays Poblacion and Taloy Sur.
From December 22, 2018 to January 2, 2019, police recorded six VTAs along Taloy Sur and eight in Poblacion including the recent vehicular accident involving three vehicles damaging of properties and injuring several on January 2 followed by another vehicular accident on January 3 involving two trucks were several were injured.