THE Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team) has reported a significant rise of 114 percent in the number of road accidents during the first two months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
While only 787 accidents were recorded by Team from January to February 2023, a total of 1,683 incidents were already reported this year for the same period.
Motorcycles were found to be the cause of 41 percent or approximately 690 of these accidents, followed by SUVs (14 percent or 236 incidents), sedans (10 percent or 163 incidents), taxis (six percent or 99 incidents), and pick-up trucks (five percent or 92 incidents).
Around 15 percent or 261 incidents were resolved amicably.
Between January and February 2024, Team recorded four deaths and 457 injuries, both minor and serious, resulting from road incidents.
This figure is already half of the 900 injuries from road accidents reported in the entire year of 2023, with nine deaths out of 4,302 incidents.
Violations
Hyll Retuya, Team assistant department head said they have intensified checkpoint operations to catch erring motorists who continue to violate traffic laws, which are the most common cause of road incidents.
Retuya said counterflowing vehicles were among the top causes of road incidents. A counterflow happens when a motorist goes out of his or her respective lane and moves against the flow of traffic.
Retuya said aside from counterflowing, Mandaue motorists often tailgate, or when drivers follow closely behind another vehicle, usually emergency vehicles without leaving a safe distance.
A video that went viral on March 1 showed an SUV driver who appeared to be blocking vehicles that were driving in the opposite direction on JP Rizal St. in Barangay Tabok on Feb. 29. Retuya said the video helped motorists understand their responsibility of not committing such traffic violations.
Meanwhile, Arnold Malig-on Jr., Team’s operation division head, said they have doubled operations, especially targeting counterflowing vehicles during early mornings and evenings.
Malig-on said more than 300 vehicles, mostly motorcycles, have been apprehended for illegal counterflowing since Monday, March 4.
A P1,000 penalty is charged for counterflowing vehicles.
Team said it continues to strictly monitor traffic incidents, particularly in the city’s accident-prone areas such as JP Rizal, ML Quezon within Barangay Cabancalan, AS Fortuna within Banilad and DM and AC Cortes within Cambaro. / HIC