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Bacolod City, PhilippinesThursday, January 5, 2012
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Editorial

Accident-prone

Daily Star logo
Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.
NINFA R. LEONARDIA
Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ
Editor

GUILLERMO TEJIDA III
Desk Editor
PATRICK PANGILINAN
Busines Editor

NIDA A. BUENAFE

Sports Editor
RENE GENOVE
Bureau Chief, Dumaguete
MAJA P. DELY
Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA
Administrative Officer

The recent declaration of the flyover and 88 other places in Bacolod city as “accident-prone” areas by the City Police Traffic Management Unit has gotten a reaction from the City Administrator Rogelio Balo who asked the TMU to explain what considerations were made and the reasons for declaring these areas accident-prone. Balo took exception to the inclusion of the flyover as among the accident-prone areas of the city, by stressing that the TMU should not give comments regarding the flyover unless they give the clear reasons for including it in their list.

TMU head Chief Insp. Luisito Acebuche explained that, aside from the number of accidents occurring in a certain place, it can also be declared accident-prone if there are existing structures that cause frequent vehicle mishaps and if that place lacks signage to warn commuters. In the case of the flyover, Acebuche said it was an accident-prone area because of the way the structure was engineered, saying the islands at the approach of the flyover have caused accidents. Since the flyover was inaugurated in August last year, at least 20 accidents have been recorded in the area.

The identification of accident-prone areas, even if the inclusion of some locations is still being debated and defended, should not stop there. If an area has been identified as such, it is the duty of both the TMU and the city government to institute changes or improvements that will lessen or eliminate the hazards associated with those areas as soon as possible. It could be as simple as adding a sign to warn motorists and commuters of the characteristics of a place, clearing the area to improve visibility, or resurfacing a slippery road surface; but something has to be done to these places that are considered accident-prone.

In the case of the flyover, it wouldn’t hurt if the city government were to be less defensive of its design shortcomings and a little more open-minded on the ways that it can be improved. Just because the structure is already there and thousands of people are using it every day, it doesn’t mean that it cannot be made safer and more efficient. A few more improvements such as proper signages, upgrades to the lighting and visibility of the area, better control at the pedestrian and loading areas; should make the flyover a better and safer place.

Accidents happen. But when they happen too often at a certain place, it is the responsibility of the government to, not only establish that fact, but also to allocate the proper resources to ensure that those potentially deadly incidents are minimized, or better yet, eliminated completely. With lives on the line, the people will not tolerate excuses and expect nothing but quick and resolute action.*

 

 
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