Wear safety gear, DoH tells motorists

At least eight out of 10 motorists who figured in an accident earlier this year were not wearing a seatbelt or a crash helmet based on a report released recently by the Department of Health (DoH).

According to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) of the DoH, it recorded 3,901 vehicular mishaps nationwide in the first quarter of the year.

Of the total number of accidents, 47 percent, or 1,833, involved motorcycles; 31.7 percent, cars, vans and buses; 14.7 percent, pedestrians; and 6.6 percent, tricycles.

Based on the DoH report, of the total number of accidents involving motorcycles, only 8.5 percent of the riders who sustained injuries were wearing helmets.

In addition, 16 victims of motorcycle mishaps were declared dead on arrival at the hospitals where they were rushed. Eight of them were later found to have been driving without a helmet.

On the other hand, of the total number of accidents involving buses, cars and vans, only 14.4 percent of the passengers who were injured were found to be wearing seatbelts.

The nationwide figures on vehicular accidents, meanwhile, prompted Health Undersecretary Teodoro Herbosa on Monday to call on motorists to be more conscious of their safety on the road.

Aside from practicing defensive driving and following traffic rules and regulations, Herbosa urged the public to use seatbelts and helmets, among other safety gear.

The NEISS is a computer-based system developed by the DoH to electronically record injury-related data submitted by health facilities nationwide.