The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported that 44,493 vehicles were involved in accidents in Metro Manila from January to July of this year.
Of the number, 32,800 incidents resulted in damage to property, 168 were fatal, and 11,525 resulted in injuries.
Latest reports from the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center revealed that four-wheelers were the most commonly involved vehicles in accidents,
comprising about 45,000 of the total.
The agency also cited that there was also an increase in accidents in the last quarter of 2022, coinciding with the imposition of the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on the MMDA’s No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP).
The monitored traffic violations since the suspension of NCAP have also increased.
In May of this year alone, 32,739 traffic violations were recorded. These traffic violations cause road accidents and slow down vehicular traffic.
Meanwhile, MMDA chairman Romando Artes urged motorists to avoid distractions while driving such as using mobile phones, eating, playing and even arguing because they may result in harm or accidents.
He said motorists can be penalized and fined several times within the day if they are caught using cellular phones or any mobile devices while driving.
“Always keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel,” Artes said on his social media account.
Under Republic Act 10913 or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act (ADDA making or receiving calls, writing, sending or reading text-based communications, playing games, watching movies, performing
calculations, reading e-books, composing messages, and surfing or browsing the internet are prohibited while driving.
Violators will be fined P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 for the second offense, and P15,000 for the third offense with a three-month suspension of their driver’s license.
After the third offense, a driver will be fined P20,000, and their license will be revoked.
Owners and operators of Public Utility Vehicles and commercial vehicles found in violation of the law will both be held liable.
Since the government implemented ADDA in 2017, a total of 3,554 motorists have been caught through physical apprehension by MMDA traffic enforcers.
