Central Visayas tallies 11,000 road crashes from January to October this year

Local

MORE than 11,000 road accidents were recorded across Central Visayas in the first ten months of the year.

This is a troubling surge that police say reflects worsening driver behavior, nighttime risks, and persistent gaps in road discipline.

Data from the Highway Patrol Group-Central Visayas (HPG-7) show a total of 11,313 road crashes from January to October 2025, with 240 fatalities logged during the period.

Of these incidents, 4,975 occurred during the day, while a significantly higher 6,338 crashes happened at night, a pattern HPG-7 chief Lt. Col. Wildemar Tiu linked to poor visibility and reckless driving.

“Many of these incidents involve overspeeding, reckless overtaking, and drivers who continue to use their mobile phones on the road,” Tiu said during MyTV Cebu’s Openline News Media Forum on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

Tiu laid out his strategy to curb road crashes in the region, stressing the need for stronger enforcement and tighter coordination with local government units.

Among the top violations HPG-7 is monitoring: overspeeding, distracted driving, including mobile phone use, and driver fatigue.

He also highlighted the need to protect pedestrians, calling on motorists to give way at designated crossings and suggesting that Cebu study the successful pedestrian management model used in Tagum City, where stricter rules helped improve compliance and traffic flow.

“Pedestrian safety must be taken more seriously. Crossing lanes is not optional,” he said.

As the holiday rush sets in, Tiu warned motorists to stay alert against carnapping schemes, which typically increase during peak shopping months and in crowded urban centers.

He advised vehicle owners to avoid heavily congested areas when possible and take added measures to secure their cars.

Traffic congestion is expected to intensify across Metro Cebu in the coming weeks, with HPG-7 deploying more personnel for visibility and traffic assistance.

In a local news report, data from the Cebu City Police Office’s Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) also showed a notable rise in road accidents in the city.

Cebu City recorded: 1,776 road accidents from January to March 2024; 7,627 total road accidents for the entire year. In the first quarter of 2025, the city logged 1,988 cases, followed by 575 cases in April and 526 as of late May.

A police officer from TEU explained that detailed causes and classifications of these crashes are logged only at individual police stations.(MyTVCebu)