Road Accidents in Davao City Surge by Over 30% in Early 2025

The Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) has reported a significant increase in road accidents within Davao City, marking a 31.3 percent rise during the first seven months of 2025 compared to the same period last year.

Lieutenant Colonel Christian Antonio D. Garcia, TEU chief, disclosed at an iSpeak forum on July 30 that a total of 2,598 road crashes were recorded between January and July this year, up from 1,998 cases in 2024. These incidents involved 4,864 vehicles, representing a 25 percent increase from the previous year.

Private vehicles accounted for the majority of the incidents at 37 percent, followed by motorcycles at 21 percent, and trucks at 10 percent. In terms of severity, 83 percent of these crashes resulted in property damage, 14 percent caused minor injuries, 2 percent led to serious injuries, and approximately 1 percent resulted in fatalities.

Garcia attributed 96 percent of these accidents to human error, highlighting factors such as distracted driving, cellphone use while driving, fatigue, and general non-compliance with traffic regulations. Mechanical failures and poor road conditions were identified as contributing factors in only 2 percent of cases.

He expressed concern over hazardous driving behaviors, particularly along Carlos P. Garcia Highway and McArthur Highway, where some motorists treat the roads like race tracks in the absence of traffic enforcers.

The top accident-prone locations identified include Carlos P. Garcia Highway (19 percent), McArthur Highway (7 percent), Cabantian (4 percent), Panacan (4 percent), and Ma-a Road (4 percent).

Accidents predominantly occurred between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., while the safest time frame was reported between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.

In response to the rising number of accidents, Garcia confirmed that the TEU, in collaboration with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), is intensifying training efforts focused on traffic law enforcement and related regulations.

He urged all motorists to adhere strictly to traffic laws, practice responsible driving, and stay vigilant on the road to help reduce the incidence of road accidents throughout Davao City.