One in every 40 registered deaths is due to a land transport-related accident

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) noted that the number of deaths due to land transport accidents in the MIMAROPA Region rose to 442 in 2023, the highest recorded in over a decade based on the data of registered deaths. These deaths accounted for 2.4 percent of all deaths regionwide with young adults aged 25 to 29 years and 20 to 24 years had the highest number of deaths due to land transport accidents accounting to 12.9 percent and 12.7 percent share, respectively.  (Figure 1 and Table A)

This number also translates to a 3.8 percent increase from 2022, where 426 deaths were recorded. Data also showed a notable decline in land transport deaths in 2020 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of nationwide lockdowns that significantly reduced road activity. (Figure 1 and Table A)

In 2020, fatalities dropped to 336, or a decreased by 18.3 percent from 411 cases in 2019. While the decline marked a sharp break from the upward trend of previous years, deaths surged back in 2021 following the easing of restrictions at 353 fatalities. Eventually, the total number of fatalities exceeded pre-pandemic levels since 2022. (Figure 1 and Table A)
 

Four in every five registered deaths due to land transport accidents are male

Based on sex of the fatalities, males remained disproportionately affected by land transport accidents, consistently making up more than 80 percent of the total land transport deaths each year. Exceptions happened in 2010 and 2012 with the proportion of male deaths due to land transport accidents at 79.4 percent and 76.4 percent, respectively. Since 2013, this proportion of male deaths has generally increased over time, with a slight shift only during the pandemic years, when overall mobility patterns were disrupted. (Figure 2)

In terms of overall mortality, land transport-related deaths account for over 3.0 percent of all male deaths, compared to less than 1.0 percent for females. In 2023, 3.5 percent of all male deaths and 0.8 percent of female deaths were attributed to land transport accidents, figures that closely mirror levels seen in the years just before the pandemic. (Figures 3, Table A, and Table B)

One in four deaths due to land transport-related accidents are young adults 20 to 29 years old

Among 442 fatalities due to land transport-related accidents in the MIMAROPA Region in 2023, young adults aged 25 to 29 years old recorded the highest number of deaths that made up 12.9 percent of the region’s annual land transport fatalities. This was followed by those aged 20 to 24 years old (12.7%), 15 to 19 years old (10.2%), and 30 to 34 years old (9.3%). In addition, Senior Citizens who died from land transport accidents accounted for 16.5 percent. (Figure 4 and Table A)
 

March and December are the most frequent months with the highest incidence of land transport-related accidents

From 2010 to 2023, the number of land transport-related deaths varied across months. March had the most frequent month with highest incidence of land transport-related deaths as reported in 2010 (10.6% share), 2013 (13.6% share), and 2018 (12.1% share). This was tied by the month of December with the highest reported deaths due to land transport accidents in 2011 (13.3% share), 2020 (13.7% share), and 2023 (12.7% share). (Figure 5 and Table C)
 

Moreover, April was the most frequently reported month with the second highest number of land transport-related deaths in 2012, 2017 and 2022 each with a share of 10.3 percent to the regional total, and in 2018 with 10.0 percent share to the regional total. In addition, July was the third highest reported land transport-related deaths in 2019 and 2023 each with 9.5 percent share to regional total and in 2013 with 9.3 percent share to the regional total. (Figure 5 and Table 3)

Meanwhile, September was the most frequently reported month with the smallest number of deaths due to land transport accidents. This occurred in 2011 (3.5% share), 2012 (6.0% share), 2013 (4.3% share), 2018 (6.5% share), 2021 (6.2% share), and 2023 (5.4% share). (Figure 5 and Table 3)

Oriental Mindoro had the highest recorded land transport-related fatalities

As for the locations with the highest number of land transport deaths in the MIMAROPA Region, Oriental Mindoro recorded the highest number of deaths due to road traffic accidents since 2010. The province accounted for 36.7 percent of the total land transport-related fatalities in 2023. Its lowest share to the regional fatalities was in 2010 at 29.8 percent, while its highest share happened in 2017 at 40.2 percent. (Figure 5 and Table D)
 

Palawan (excluding the City of Puerto Princesa) and Occidental Mindoro followed with a corresponding share of 21.0 percent and 19.2 percent to the region’s total deaths due to land transport accidents in 2023. Since 2010, Palawan’s share to the regional number of land transport deaths reached its lowest in 2011 at 13.3 percent, while its highest in 2021 at 27.5 percent. Occidental Mindoro’s share, on the other hand, had its lowest share to the regional total land transport fatalities in 2017 at 13.8 percent and its highest share in 2018 at 22.7 percent. (Table D)

Meanwhile, the region’s lone highly urbanized City of Puerto Princesa recorded 15.6 percent of the total fatalities due to land transport accidents in 2023. This was the lowest share of the city to the total land transport-related fatalities since its highest reported share in 2011 at 27.0 percent. (Table D).

(SGD) LENI R. RIOFLORIDO
Regional Director

MLLM / VFM / RRL