Road accidents can happen anywhere in the Philippines. In 2023, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority reported 85,954 road accidents in Metro Manila alone, while the same report recorded over 709 deaths in Metro Manila related to road accidents in 2023.
Despite that many streets, roads, and highways follow the standards outlined by the government, accidents are still likely to happen. Thus, the appropriate government sectors and privately-owned roads must take steps to mitigate incidents and keep highways safe for motorists.
Here are just a few examples how highways can be made safer for motorists and drivers.
Invest in Quality Road Markings
We’ve covered the importance of road markings for drivers and pedestrians. On highways, it can regulate traffic, increase driver safety, and improve night-time visibility as well as during weather like heavy rains or fog.
Well-marked roads are an investment for public and private roads. Quality road marking paint for highway roads, however, are an investment that can go the distance.
Lesser quality paints are prone to chipping and fading away faster. This means that, to keep your roads safe, you will have to exhaust more resources and close more road portions to re-apply paint after a number of years. Higher quality road marking paints, however, last longer and dry faster, meaning less downtime and less resources exhausted.
Establish Minimum and Maximum Speeds
Establish the minimum and maximum speeds allowed by different types of vehicles and then put road signs to remind drivers of these limits. Minimum speeds are required on the highway as there is a possibility of a collision in case a vehicle is driving much slower than the average speed on the highway.
On the other hand, maximum speed limits are necessary because of the dangers of speeding. According to TopGear, it takes 50 meters for a loaded SUV to come to a full stop while going 100 kilometers per hour. If one were to speed at 160 kilometers per hour, it can take over 100 meters (or around 20 car lengths) to stop. This is why the average speed limits in highways and expressways are much lower than this to prevent accidents.
Set Up Emergency Bay Points
Create designated emergency bay points within the highway in case a driver experiences an emergency that requires them to stop. Without these, it can be difficult to pull up to the side of the road (especially in narrow roads) and can cause traffic or congestion, which can lead to an accident.
Distance the emergency bays within a fair distance from each other so that motorists can easily access the next emergency bay in case of an emergency.
Put Up Road Signs
Road signs contain life-saving information about traffic regulations, potential hazards, and road conditions. To improve road safety conditions further, putting up road signages and ensuring that they’re visible and are maintained is key to better conditions.
Here are some things to consider when putting up road signs:
Visibility and Placement
Road signs must be placed in clear, strategic locations to be effective. Poor placement or damaged signs can confuse drivers, especially during poor weather or at night. Routine maintenance, including repainting and replacing signs, can ensure that these signs remain visible and functional for longer.
The combination of properly positioned and well-maintained signs, and quality road markings can improve driver safety and reduce the risk of accidents.
Types of Road Signs
There are three main types of road signs in the Philippines:
- Regulatory signs enforce traffic laws, such as speed limits and no-parking zones.
- Warning signs alert drivers to potential hazards, like sharp curves or roadwork.
- Informative signs provide useful information, such as distances or nearby facilities.
Philippine road signs tell drivers when to adjust their behavior on the road, particularly on highways where quick decision-making is crucial.
Coordination with Road Markings
Road signs and road markings work together to guide motorists.
For example, speed limit signs are reinforced by lane dividers and pedestrian crossings, making drivers more aware of speed restrictions and road boundaries.
Station Traffic Officers
While road signs provide guidance, traffic enforcers are there to ensure that traffic laws are being followed. Here are some of the benefits of stationing traffic enforcers in key sites along the road:
Traffic Monitoring and Speed Enforcement
Traffic enforcers are in charge of enforcing speed limits, road rules, and monitoring traffic. In some areas of Metro Manila, traffic enforcers take charge of the roads by disabling stoplights and coordinating with fellow traffic enforcers to speed up traffic flow during rush hours.
Aside from this, traffic enforcers apprehend speed limit violators to ensure the safety of all road users. They also monitor road rules, meaning they keep careful watch of all road users to see if they’re following the road markings and the road signs.
Traffic officers are crucial to safer roads.
Encouraging Better Driving
Traffic enforcers also monitor if the driver of a vehicle is distracted or if they’re wearing their seatbelts on major highways. If the driver is distracted or if they’re not following the law, the traffic enforcer will pull them over to give them a warning or a ticket to remind them to stay safe behind the wheel.
Accident Response and Investigation
Another important reason why traffic officers should be stationed along key areas is so that they can respond to any accidents or emergencies. In case there’s a medical emergency on the road or a driver has vehicle troubles, the traffic enforcer can assist, and they can also ease the flow of traffic.
Make Emergency Numbers Readily Available
Put signs informing the motorists of the hotline number for the Highway Patrol Group or expressway patrols on the emergency bay, highway entrance, and other key locations along the highway. This is to ensure that, in case of an emergency, they can quickly call for help and can be assisted. The sooner they are handled, the less likely there will be an accident because of their emergency.
Building Better Roads with Rua Seguridad
Public and private roads need to be safe for motorists and minimize the risks of an accident. These are just some of the steps that can be taken to ensure the safety of everyone on the road.
As you can probably tell from the article, creating safer roads isn’t a one-time thing. It requires continuous maintenance and efforts from the government to ensure the safety of everyone. Road safety is also a combination of several efforts such as placing road markings, stationing traffic officers, and maintaining road markings for better road safety.
Of course, road safety should be complemented with high-quality materials. Using high-quality materials in road construction, signages, and road markings can ensure that these will last for a long time and that they’ll keep more people safe, too. If you’re looking for a supplier that can do just this, why not consider Rua Seguridad?
Rua Seguridad is the industry leader in quality road marking equipment and thermoplastic road paint. We’ve helped mark some of the biggest roads, highways, and expressways across the country, and we take pride in our legacy for having a hand in some of the country’s most notable public works projects. Contact us today to receive a quotation
