DOH reports 350 road mishaps on Christmas week; 3 deaths logged

More than 300 road mishaps were recorded during the week leading to and after Christmas Day, leaving at least three people dead, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Saturday.

In an update on Facebook, the Health Department said it has monitored a total of 350 cases of road accidents from December 22 until 6 a.m. of December 28.

The DOH said the number was 23% higher year-on-year.

"Tatlo ang patay sa kabuuang bilang kung saan dalawa sa mga nasawi ay nagtamo ng injury sa ulo habang walang suot na helmet sa motorsiklo," the DOH said.

(Of the total figure, three people died. Two of them suffered head injuries as they were not wearing helmets while riding motorcycles.)

The agency said that 63 of the total road accidents were cases of driving under the influence of alcohol, while 306 were logged as not using safety accessories.

A total of 239 cases, or about 68.3%, were motorcycle mishaps.

With the 350 overall cases, the number of traffic incidents during the holiday season rose by 66 compared to DOH's tally on Friday.

The DOH also gave the following reminders to keep travelers safe on the road:

• Always wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle or use a seat belt when riding a car
• Avoid driving if exhausted or drunk as this could affect one’s coordination, concentration, as well as swift response to sudden road incidents
• Follow speed limits and road signs to ensure safe road travel and avoid accidents
• Ensure to have at least seven to eight hours of sleep before driving. Avoid any distractions while driving such as use of cellphones.

Motorists who experience any untoward road situations may call the 911 emergency hotline and the 1555 DOH emergency hotline, the DOH said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News