TRANSPORTATION groups and stakeholders in Central Visayas pledged to promote safer roads during the kickoff of Road Safety Week on Monday, May 19, 2025, at IL Corso, South Road Properties in Cebu City.
The signing of “Commit to Life — A Road Safety Pledge,” led by Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7, included representatives from local traffic enforcement units, accredited driving schools, motorcycle clubs, ride-hailing platforms and transport operators.
The event launched a week-long activity in Central Visayas themed “Drive to Protect: Safe Streets, Safe Children.”
The initiative forms part of Road Safety Month, which is observed each May as this period traditionally sees an increase in travel during summer vacations, often accompanied by a rise in traffic accidents.
LTO 7 Director Glen Galario urged the public to treat road safety as a daily responsibility. He said accident numbers in Central Visayas remain similar to last year but stressed the need for vigilance during peak travel seasons like Holy Week, holidays and elections.
Highway Patrol Group (HPG) 7 Chief Col. Wilbert Parilla noted human error as the leading cause of road incidents and called for road safety to become a way of life.
The event featured a motorcade around Cebu City and the opening of a Road Safety Fair, where partner driving schools offered up to 80 percent discounts on theoretical driving courses.
A total of 2,700 discounted vouchers will be available throughout the week.
Activities include road safety exhibits, interactive booths and defensive driving seminars, ending with a thanksgiving mass and closing program on May 23.
Officials from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 7, led by Director Eduardo Montealto Jr., and representatives from the local governments of Cebu City, Mandaue and Talisay also expressed support for the initiative.
National data
Road crash fatalities in the Philippines surged by 35.32 percent in 2024, with 2,747 deaths recorded compared to 2,030 in 2023, according to the HPG.
This sharp increase showed a road safety crisis nationwide, with vehicular crashes rising by 27.6 percent from 24,495 cases in 2023 to 31,258 incidents in 2024.
Reckless driving was identified as the leading cause, accounting for 87.17 percent or 27,248 of the incidents. Common reckless driving behaviors included unsafe overtaking, improper turning, speeding, drunk driving, overloading and using mobile phones while driving, according to the HPG.
/ CDF