Here's how to drive safely in the expressways during summertime.
We all have done it before, driving a 200-kilometer stretch of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), traveling at a steady 100 kph while our passengers (mostly family) are holding their breath and cringing because we attempted to answer a phone call while driving. We have to admit, it's one of a few mistakes we can commit while driving.
The first mistake is thinking we always have control of the car. The second is our assumption that road traffic is eternally clear in the expressways.
And there's the smartphone.
WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS ARTICLE
2. What are the most traveled days of the year?
3. How many road accidents occur in expressways?
4. How many deaths and injuries?
5. How many of these road accidents are phone-related?
6. Aside from mobile phones, what are the most common causes of road accidents?
7. What are the six (6) effective ways to drive safe in expressways?
What are the known expressways in the Philippines?
The interlinking North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), all 266.7 kilometers of it, is one of the longest expressway in the country. Down south, there's the Manila-CaviteExpressway (CavitEX), Metro Manila Skyway, Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX), South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR Tollway). Both north and south can service close to half a million vehicles daily.
What are the most traveled days of the year?
A survey, conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority and the Department of Tourism, shows there are three most traveled days in a year.
How many road accidents occur in expressways?
According to the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), road accidents in expressways has increased for the past three years from 2017 to 2019. In 2018 alone, the board has recorded 9,166 accidents in the eight expressways, with NLEX ranking first among toll road accidents in terms of fatalities and injuries since 2017. Metro Manila Skyway, the 30-kilometer highway in southern Metro Manila, was first in terms of road crash rate, or the number of accidents per 1,000 vehicles, as well as accidents per kilometer.
On average, the TRB has recorded a total of 35.19 road crashes a day!
The 35.19 road crashes a day recorded from January to June 2019 is a slight increase from 34.79 daily accidents that occurred in the eight expressways during the same period in 2018. But the latest figure was a 24-percent increase from the 27.97 daily accidents reported during the same period in 2017.
How many deaths and injuries?
In terms of actual number of accidents, TRB data show that NLEX had a slightly higher count in the first half of 2019, with Skyway in second place. These two expressways consistently had the most number of road crashes during the same period in the last three years.
Road crashes in NLEX had so far claimed the lives of a total of 75 people since 2017, or 40% of a total of 185 killed in the expressways during the same period.
For injuries, a total of 2,371 were recorded wounded in road crashes along the expressways, 47% of these injuries sustained in NLEX. (Source: GMA News)
How many of these road accidents are phone-related?
The TRB has no actual number. It's very rare that a Filipino driver involved in a road accident would admit that his using of the gadget while driving caused the accident. This explains the lack of official statistics of road crashes caused by using mobile phones in the Philippines. But the fact that the government has passed a law, the Anti-Distracted Driving Act of 2016 which aims to prohibit the use of mobile phones, texting, talking or surfing while in control of a vehicle, means it believes a number of car crashes were brought about by distracted driving.
In the US, the National Safety Council reports that mobile phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year. Nearly 390,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting while driving. 1 out of every 4 car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving.
Aside from mobile phones, what are the most common causes of road accidents?
Traffic Congestion - The summer days are most conducive to travel and vacation getaways, which can lead to traffic congestion even in the expressways. Being behind the wheel for long periods of time cause driver frustrations resulting in an increased risk for erratic driving and even road rage.
Road Construction - Typically in the Philippines, there is an increased amount of road construction during the summer, resulting in unfamiliar detours, driver distraction, congestion and other road hazards.
Unfamiliar Destinations - Vacationers can be unfamiliar with their destinations, and as such, cause driver distraction and last minute stops and turns which often result in car crashes.
Intoxication - The summer sun is a perfect backdrop for beach get togethers and relaxation, camping and barbecues, thus require a cold beer or other alcoholic beverages. Sadly, most people choose to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol, which results in an increased risk for car crashes.
Blistering Heat - The blistering heat of summer often results in dehydration and fatigue, and drivers can easily get tired or worse, can get sick. Human fatigue impairs the senses causing slow reaction time, miscalculations and wrong judgment which can result to road crashes. Even the vehicles are not spared by the excessive heat as this can cause vehicular breakdown and tire blowouts, thus, increasing the risk of road accidents.
6 Effective ways to drive safe in expressways
We all know the numbers and they're not pretty. What we have to do now is to avoid all those hazards and keep ourselves (and our families) safe while on the road. Aside from the routine BLOWBAGETS (battery, lights, oil, water, brake, air, gas, engine, tire, and self), here are six effective ways to drive safely while in the expressways.
Do you have any expressway stories worth sharing?
Share them in the comments section below.
(Screenshot from NLEX)
The interlinking North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), all 266.7 kilometers of it, is one of the longest expressway in the country. Down south, there's the Manila-CaviteExpressway (CavitEX), Metro Manila Skyway, Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX), South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR Tollway). Both north and south can service close to half a million vehicles daily.
What are the most traveled days of the year?
A survey, conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority and the Department of Tourism, shows there are three most traveled days in a year.
- The Holy Week during summertime which accounts for 27% of the most traveled days.
- All Saints’ Day with 39.8%; and
- Christmas Season with for 47.9%.
How many road accidents occur in expressways?
According to the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), road accidents in expressways has increased for the past three years from 2017 to 2019. In 2018 alone, the board has recorded 9,166 accidents in the eight expressways, with NLEX ranking first among toll road accidents in terms of fatalities and injuries since 2017. Metro Manila Skyway, the 30-kilometer highway in southern Metro Manila, was first in terms of road crash rate, or the number of accidents per 1,000 vehicles, as well as accidents per kilometer.
On average, the TRB has recorded a total of 35.19 road crashes a day!
The 35.19 road crashes a day recorded from January to June 2019 is a slight increase from 34.79 daily accidents that occurred in the eight expressways during the same period in 2018. But the latest figure was a 24-percent increase from the 27.97 daily accidents reported during the same period in 2017.
How many deaths and injuries?
In terms of actual number of accidents, TRB data show that NLEX had a slightly higher count in the first half of 2019, with Skyway in second place. These two expressways consistently had the most number of road crashes during the same period in the last three years.
Road crashes in NLEX had so far claimed the lives of a total of 75 people since 2017, or 40% of a total of 185 killed in the expressways during the same period.
For injuries, a total of 2,371 were recorded wounded in road crashes along the expressways, 47% of these injuries sustained in NLEX. (Source: GMA News)
How many of these road accidents are phone-related?
The TRB has no actual number. It's very rare that a Filipino driver involved in a road accident would admit that his using of the gadget while driving caused the accident. This explains the lack of official statistics of road crashes caused by using mobile phones in the Philippines. But the fact that the government has passed a law, the Anti-Distracted Driving Act of 2016 which aims to prohibit the use of mobile phones, texting, talking or surfing while in control of a vehicle, means it believes a number of car crashes were brought about by distracted driving.
In the US, the National Safety Council reports that mobile phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year. Nearly 390,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting while driving. 1 out of every 4 car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving.
Aside from mobile phones, what are the most common causes of road accidents?
Traffic Congestion - The summer days are most conducive to travel and vacation getaways, which can lead to traffic congestion even in the expressways. Being behind the wheel for long periods of time cause driver frustrations resulting in an increased risk for erratic driving and even road rage.
Road Construction - Typically in the Philippines, there is an increased amount of road construction during the summer, resulting in unfamiliar detours, driver distraction, congestion and other road hazards.
Unfamiliar Destinations - Vacationers can be unfamiliar with their destinations, and as such, cause driver distraction and last minute stops and turns which often result in car crashes.
Intoxication - The summer sun is a perfect backdrop for beach get togethers and relaxation, camping and barbecues, thus require a cold beer or other alcoholic beverages. Sadly, most people choose to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol, which results in an increased risk for car crashes.
Blistering Heat - The blistering heat of summer often results in dehydration and fatigue, and drivers can easily get tired or worse, can get sick. Human fatigue impairs the senses causing slow reaction time, miscalculations and wrong judgment which can result to road crashes. Even the vehicles are not spared by the excessive heat as this can cause vehicular breakdown and tire blowouts, thus, increasing the risk of road accidents.
6 Effective ways to drive safe in expressways
We all know the numbers and they're not pretty. What we have to do now is to avoid all those hazards and keep ourselves (and our families) safe while on the road. Aside from the routine BLOWBAGETS (battery, lights, oil, water, brake, air, gas, engine, tire, and self), here are six effective ways to drive safely while in the expressways.
- Never use your smartphones while driving. It has been proven globally that distracted driving causes many road crashes.
- Use your high beam sparingly. A high beam causes momentary blindness and this can be dangerous.
- Don't overspeed. The numbers you see on those signboards are meant to guide you on how fast or slow you can go. Remember: the speed that thrills is the speed that kills.
- Keep a safe distance. A safe, stopping distance refers to how far it takes you to bring the car to a full stop in an emergency, and it is determined by two factors: your reaction and your distance to the vehicle in your front. My safe stopping distance is always maintaining a three-car length distance from the vehicle in front of me. Some people prefer more distance, some prefer less, whichever works for them best.
- Check your rearview and side mirrors. Expect a lot of speedy cars in the expressways. Check your mirrors when changing lanes as there are always oncoming vehicles to your left and right. Change lanes only when necessary or when overtaking.
- Use your turn signals. Cars following you cannot guess when you're changing lanes so it's best to use your turn signals properly. The turn signals is your means of communicating to them and it will let them know when you intend to cross their lanes.
Do you have any expressway stories worth sharing?
Share them in the comments section below.
(Screenshot from NLEX)