Injury and violence

Road traffic injury

About 7,000 Filipinos die each year, and thousands more are injured or disabled, due to road traffic crashes. Riders of motorcycles and two-wheeler bicycles make up a large proportion of these statistics. Injuries to the head and neck are often the main cause of death, severe injury and disability.

Road traffic crashes can be prevented, or at least controlled, with effective interventions. These include the following strategies and measures:

• setting laws requiring seat-belts and child restraints for all occupants of motor vehicles;
• requiring riders of motorcycles to wear helmets;
• establishing and enforcing blood alcohol limits;
• setting and enforcing speed limits;
• managing existing physical road infrastructure; and
• improving vehicle safety.

WHO is working with national partners in the Philippines to strengthen road safety initiatives, specifically on these strategies and measures. Road traffic crashes are NOT unavoidable accidents. Through a proactive preventive approach to reduce deaths, injuries and disabilities on our roads, many lives can be saved.