Pink fences, barriers not to blame for accidents - MMDA chief

MANILA, Philippines – The concrete barriers and pink lane fences along major roads of Metro Manila have not been one of the major causes of accidents, contrary to complaints by motorists and frequent media reports, according to Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Those traffic devices installed by the MMDA have complied with international traffic safety standards. "We though long about this and consulted many local and foreign experts," Fernando said in a statement released on Monday. "The barriers should not be blamed for the road accidents because the MMDA before putting it on the highway has already installed the necessary safety device for it to be visible to motorists." The traffic devices accounted for only 0.13 percent of all accidents last year – that's 84 out of 63,072 incidents, Fernando said, citing statistics from a study by the MMDA Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS). The figures were collected from the five police districts of Metro Manila, as well as from reports received by the MMDA Traffic Operations Center. Fernado noted how much fewer accidents where on areas where the MMDA devices were installed. From January 2005 to July 2008, the MMARAS recorded 2,344 accidents in 11 intersections with traffic signal lights along the 24-kilometer long EDSA. But in roads where the MMDA has 23 U-turn slots, only 499 accidents were recorded. On the other hand, eight died and 237 motorists and pedestrians were seriously hurt in accidents along intersections compared to five dead and 43 injured in U-turn slots. Motorists have been complaining of the rise of accidents along EDSA and other roads, which they blamed on the road structures installed by the MMDA. Among their complaints were of inadequate lighting at night that made it hard for them to spot the structures. They also blamed the MMDA not having early warning devices installed at the approach of U-turn slots and reflectors and blinkers on the concrete barriers to prevent accidents. Motorists have also complained about the U-turn slots installed by the MMDA in the metropolis ostensibly to speed up the flow of traffic. - GMANews.TV