MMDA: Edsa accidents fault of drivers

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has advised motorists to drive safely and familiarize themselves with the reconfigured Edsa after it recorded 18 accidents between June 1 and June 19, or one accident a day, on the busy thoroughfare.

Of the 18 accidents, 16 involved vehicles crashing into the lane separators or concrete barriers placed in the middle of Edsa to mark the bus lanes.

Many of the accidents happened at night. MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said that all of these were “self-accidents,” or the fault of the drivers. Four of them were caught driving while drunk while another four made “miscalculations” as they entered the new busway on the innermost lane.

On June 19, a motorcycle rider died after hitting a concrete barrier inside the bus lane on the southbound lane of Edsa in Mandaluyong City.

The night before, a van overturned on Edsa-Guadalupe northbound after it crashed into the lane separators, leaving three injured.

The driver admitted he was drunk and did not see the barriers. The MMDA acknowledged complaints from motorists about the lane separators as Pialago asked drivers to exercise more caution, stay on their lanes and avoid speeding.

The agency said it would install additional hazard markers, or blinking orange lights, on top of the concrete barriers to make these more visible even at night.

—Dexter Cabalza