DOTr reminds drivers on BLOWBAGETS to avoid road crashes
By Mariesh F. Celedeña
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) Caraga reminded the drivers of BLOWBAGETS to reduce road accidents that are sometimes fatal, during the recent Road Safety Summit in Butuan City.
BLOWBAGETS, short for Battery, Lights, Oil, Water, Brake, Air, Gas, Engine, Tires, and Self, are the 10 essential items that drivers need to regularly check to ensure a safe trip.
As a preventive measure, it decreases the chance of road crash by lessening the presence of unfit vehicles and reckless drivers hitting the roads.
Marife G. Gambe, head of the traffic safety unit of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), emphasized the significant role of the vehicle driver to ensure safe roads and the safety of lives.
She said, “Road crashes are unpredictable, so on top of the vehicle priority parts to be religiously checked, it is important that the driver should also be mentally and physically fit to avoid the unpredictable incident of road crash.”
“A driver should only be driving for a maximum of six hours to ensure their safety and of the passengers,” added Gambe. “BLOWBAGETS calls for all the drivers to be responsible and disciplined road users at all times.”
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in 2022, the Caraga region recorded a total of 18,283 deaths related to various land transport accidents. Most of the accidents involved male with 10,361 deaths, while 7,922 were female.
With this alarming data, the DOTr strengthened its mandate on safe, efficient and reliable transportation services through awareness campaigns. (MFC, PIA Caraga)
