Traffic and Vehicular Incident Comparisons before and during the Pandemic (2019 vs 2020) in Metro Manila

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only been a public health concern but has also altered the transportation sector of the Philippines. Road decongestion has been apparent and has altered trends in road safety.

Objective. This study aims to explore the effect of pandemic-induced lockdowns on the severity profile of recorded road crashes. Specifically, this study aims to compare risky road user behaviors, collision types, classification of crashes, road user fatalities and injuries, and vehicle involvement before and during the pandemic.

Methods. Data collected from the Metro Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System (MMARAS) in the years 2019 and 2020 were used. A total of 186,802 cases were analyzed. Cross-tabulations on risky road user behaviors, collision type, and classification of crashes were conducted to compare the proportions of crashes that occurred before and during the pandemic. Mann-Whitney U test was done to compare road user injury/death and vehicle involvement in 2019 vs 2020. Then, an indicator variable for 2020 was used as a lone independent variable in logistic regression models to estimate the association of pandemic-period lockdowns with road user injury/fatality.

Results. The proportion of road crashes due to human error is significantly greater during the pandemic era, as well as road crashes due to the road. There is also a greater proportion of collisions due to angle impact, head-on collision, hit-and-run, hit object, multiple, and self-accident, while there are fewer “hit pedestrian” crashes, rear-end collisions, and side-swipe collisions. Results also show that despite the evident reduction of traffic congestion during the pandemic, there is an increase in fatal and non-fatal crashes. There are also significantly more drivers killed and injured during the pandemic period, while fewer passengers and pedestrians were injured. Public utility vehicles such as jeepneys, taxi/FX, and buses, as well as private cars, are less likely to be involved in crashes during the pandemic, while there is a significant increase in crashes involving cycles/pedicabs, motorcycles, vans, and trucks.

Conclusion. The findings of this study revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has indeed influenced the trends in road safety in Metro Manila. It was revealed that the reduced traffic congestion during the pandemic, while resulting in an overall decrease in crashes, has led to an increase in the severity and fatality of crashes. Hence, road safety remains an important public concern in the midst of the pandemic.