MORE deaths were recorded in road crash as compared to casualties of war.
Francis Ray Almora, Land Transportation Office-Cordillera regional director cited a United Nations data on November 17, during the National Day of Remembrance for road crash victims, survivor and families.
"The road safety is recognized as more than an epidemic. We look at the statistics, there are more deaths because of road crashes than in war," Almora added.
Road crashes are major global problem with all types of road users at risk, hence, every year put on the national health system, death and injuries.
Number of deaths has reached to 1.35 million each year with road crash seen as major cause of death for children and young adults age five to 29 years old.
Immediate factors associated with road crash vary from human factor or road user, vehicle defects, road defects and other infrastructure and defects, environmental factors or weather factors.
"When we count road crash victims, we count even those affected by road crashes effects beyond rehabilitation period for victims," he said.
Police Inspector Juan Morales of Baguio City Police Office recalled his experience of road crash back in 2008 traversing Marcos Highway, a major thoroughfare going to the city after he collided directly with a taxi that hit his motorbike.
"Lumipad ako doon pagbagsak ko, I feel the pain pain the moment I tried to stand up but I couldn't," he shared.
Upon reaching the hospital, the x-ray results showed a fracture and dislocation in his foot.
The following weeks were crucial for Morales, taking his senior leadership course for his promotion and lamented the worst part of being in pain and not having ample medications during those times as the driver had no money to take care of his medical expenses.
Major Peter Dapliyan Highway Patrol Group in the region also recalled how he lost his mother at the age of four in 1983, after a bus she was fell in Poblacion, Tadian in Mt. Province.
"My family is victim of road crash at the age of four. My mother was a victim of road crash in Mt. Province where in the driver of the bus was drunk," Dapliyan recalls.
He added there was no anti - drunk driving act then.
Now, despite pleas from riders and motorists apprehended for being drunk while driving, he added it is their duty to implement the law and on a personal note, added he doesn't want another child to lose their parents because of a drunk driver.
Ricky Reyes of the city 911 on Call rescue team said Philippine Statistics Authority data shows more than 8,000 casualties in 2018 nationwide.
"The numbers are still rising and the sad thing is that these deaths, injuries are preventable. The concern for road traffic deaths and injuries are not just a transport or traffic issue, it is an issue that can be addressed from risk reduction management perspective like us and other medical responders in the city for pre-medical and hospital rescue," he added.
As a take away, Morales advised fellow drivers and motorists to respect the road right of way of everyone, to be obedient to the law, to the signboard, signal light and have the courage to partake in police checkpoints, and sufficient knowledge in driving.