Vehicle crashes up in Baguio City; measures studied against accidents

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY -- Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Baguio police director Col. Francisco Bulwayan Jr. are looking into measures to curb increasing trend in vehicular incidents in this tourism resort.
    The mayor sought data analytics on the accidents that transpired to determine the causes of the traffic accidents and serve as a guide on what actions can be taken to break the trend.

    Bulwayan said latest data from the BCPO Crime Incident Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS) showed a total of 263 reported VTIs from October to December 26, 2023 and that human error was mostly the cause of such incidents.

    “Based on the BCPO investigation, human error was the primary contributor to 220 incidents, followed by 42 cases attributed to mechanical defects, and one incident each due to road conditions and weather conditions,” Bulwayan said.

    The police chief said the department through the Traffic Enforcement Unit proposed measures to address the problem to wit: imposition of speed limits on all streets, strict observance of no-overloading policies especially for vehicles on hilly terrains, installation of clear traffic signage, and the reconstruction of roads that have deficiencies or damages.

    He said the measures will “address the root causes of accidents and bolster traffic management and safety within the city.”

    “We are also urging public cooperation to foster a safer road environment, aiming to reduce VTI occurrences by addressing human error, mechanical defects, and unfavorable road conditions,” he said.

    The CIRAS report showed that as a result of the VTIs, a total 215 cases were filed for reckless imprudence resulting in damage to properties, 46 for reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries and two others for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.